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Threadfall, Bronzerider Jokes, and a Promotion Or Four


Date: May 16, 1997
Places:  Benden Weyr's Living Cavern and North Bowl, and the Skies 
Over Valley Hold
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  Now *this* is some RP that I'm sure never to forget! :)
The whole night was a lot of fun; I like to think that the Fall went
well, and thanks for that are due to C'vadan, who helped me in 
organizing it. :)  And that's to say nothing of what happened after
the 'Fall!  Thanks go to everyone who made things such a success. :)
As far as technical foo goes, I think that (for once) everything 
pretty much speaks for itself.  Pagefoo and irrelevant knot chat have
been cut, as have most of the OOC dragon comments.

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The Log:

Emlyn looks up at T'fian and, by instinct, salutes again. She says, "Well, 
Sir, I was just, er, speculating on why you were having Northern Lights 
fly resupply at today's fall."

Kassima squelches in from outside, dripping wet, with a towl draped over 
her shoulders. White water-lilies liberally garland her freshly-combed 
black hair in a rather haphazard fashion. "Lovely day for a swim," she 
remarks cheerfully while waving over to Emlyn and R'val, reserving her 
sharpest of salutes for Ursa and T'fian. "Now all I need to make this day 
better is a plateful of ribs and some of Ofira's mushroom soup. Dare I ask 
if any of either remains t'be had?"

Ursa glances up and adds, "And I was about to tell her to just presume 
it's because you have confidence in their wing." She nods to Kassi.

T'fian takes a drink of his citron juice before answering. "Well, 
weyrling. Traditionally the duties of weyrlings include flying resupply. 
And we have talked with Sionelle who has assured us you are ready to enter 
a Threadfall. It's a little earlier than all of us would have liked, but 
we can't keep you stuck on the ground forever."

The mouth-watering aroma of the ribs wafts through the living cavern.

R'val shrugs one shoulder towards Kassima, "I'm unsure. I think there's 
still some soup left. Darn good it is too."

T'fian glances over at Kassima and shakes his head. He never has much of 
an appetite pre-Fall.

T'firan's words elicit a grin from Emlyn. She nods. "My thoughts exactly, 
Sir."

Kassima doesn't drool as she catches scent of the ribs--not quite, anyway. 
But her eyes do glaze over, and she takes a few steps in the direction of 
the table like someone being led about by the nose. "Thank Faranth," she 
breathes, grabbing a plate and working to fill it with food post-haste. 
"Given how good Ofira's food is, I'm always afraid I'll nay find any left 
when dinner time rolls around--thankee for the advice, R'val." Walking 
over to the other side of the table to procure soup, she glances up at 
the bluerider and inquires, "Are you and Vidarth ready for 'Fall?"

R'val nods his head slowly, sipping his own bowl of the soup. "Aye," he 
murmurs around the spoon, "Ready as ever."

Emlyn speaks again after a moment, "The past four drills have been exactly 
as long as a fall."

T'fian nods, unsmiling at the Weyrling. "You may not think so after 
tonight," he says. "This pattern's very tricky because of the hills near 
Bayhead. Which is about where P'tran calls for resupply. The ridges and 
valleys of the area create havoc with the wind which in turn wreaks havoc 
on the leading edge of the 'Fall. And you won't be flying full 'Fall 
tonight."

T'ren enters from the Bowl.

R'val glances towards T'fian, listening with a frown of concern on his 
face.

T'ren saunters in, and for a change, doesn't head straight for the bar.
Waving hello, T'ren bellos, "AhoY!"

T'fian glances over at T'ren, eyeing him for a moment, then nods as the 
bluerider, for a change, doesn't head straight for the bar. He turns back 
to Emlyn.

Emlyn listens to T'fian's description of the conditions. "But we'll have 
our dragons stoked for flame, correct?"

T'ren salutes T'fian, his former AWLM, as T'ren pours a glass of fruit 
juice.

Kassima nods to R'val as she carries her foodstuffs to her usual seat at 
her usual table, sitting down with a clatter of dishware. "Aye... you 
would be, a'course." Glancing over at T'fian and Emlyn, she remarks more 
to the Weyrling than the Weyrsecond, "I recall flying resupply over the 
Valley and Bayhead route as a Weyrling. The winds are just about 
guarenteed to cause trouble for even the most skilled."

Ursa is listening intently to the conversation. Tonight is very important 
to her. But suddenly she sighs. "Excuse me, I really do need to go see 
about those replacements for tonight." She scoops up the last of her stew 
before scrambling to her feet.

Kindre walks in from the bowl.

Salless smiles sweetly at the junior queenrider.

T'fian nods at Emlyn's words. "You will as a precaution have your dragons 
ready to flame when you're called in. Hopefully you won't need it." He 
nods to Ursa. "Of course, Wingleader."

R'val spots Kindre and flashes a quick smile of greeting towards her, 
waving with his free hand.

Kindre, as has become her ritual, returns Salless' sweet smile with one 
of her own. Waving a hand in greeting, she procures a mug of juice before 
sliding into a seat. "Good eve, all. How fares? How are you feeling, 
Kassi," she wonders over to the greenrider, "Need anything?"

Emlyn smiles distractedly at Ursa as the brownrider leaves.

Ursa walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Emlyn looks back at T'fian and nods. "So, we won't actually be flying 
-with-- the wings during the fall. Not until we're called in to supply the 
depleted fighting wings."

T'fian salutes Kindre. "Weyrwoman," he greets quietly, before looking back 
at the weyrling. He shakes his head. "No. You aren't ready to fly a full 
'Fall, yet. All though, with this pattern and the unpredicatability of 
the winds, you will probably end having to flame your way out of some 
clumps."

Kassima salutes Ursa with her free hand, the other being occupied by a 
rib. "Afternoon, Kindre," she smiles at her friend. "Don't get too close--
I'm having mushroom soup, and I recall your saying that the presence of 
them's enough to set off your allergies. I'm feeling well; a bit 
overtired, and a bit superfluous watching all the preparations for Fall, 
but otherwise fine." She nods her head once as though to emphasize her 
words, but only succeeds in causing one of the water-lilies on her head 
to fall off onto the table.

Salless brings T'ren a beer, out of habit. T'ren laughs, "Salless, I'll be 
flying shortly, but I appreciate the offer."

Emlyn thinks about what T'fian's just told her. She purses her lips and 
nods. Finally, she notices Kindre and salutes the goldrider. There's 
something about the action of saluting the goldrider that makes all her 
training suddenly more real. Today, she and her wingmates will flame 
thread.

T'ren hrms "I'll be right back...

T'ren walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Kindre chuckles, her head shaking a bit before she speaks. "I'll be sure 
to keep my distance, to be true," is remarks while she slides a seat or 
two away from the mentioned soup. Turning her eyes towards the 
conversation, she nods to the salutes. "Just be careful and aware, Emlyn. 
I've never flown up with the Wings, so mayhaps my advice isn't the more 
experienced, but I've watched. I've just got my straps left to check 
myself."

R'val sips his klah, expresionless as he listens to the conversation 
around him.

T'fian looks over at Kindre. "Will the Queens Wing be with us, Weyrwoman?"

Emlyn looks at the neatly coiled pile of straps at her feet. They're her 
backup set and have been checked twice already. The other set is outside, 
leaning against the wall near the living cavern entry. They've been 
checked five times.

"Yes Si...T'fian," Kindre bobs her head as she speaks, the title she 
learned to call the Wingsecond still slipping out when Threadfall is 
impending. "I was told to prepare, so I would assume we'll be with you 
this 'fall."

Kassima nods to Kindre, looking almost wistful as she listens to the 
conversation about the ensuing 'Fall. "Likely a wise notion, Kin; it 
wouldn't do t'have you allergy-wracked during the Threadfall. I'll do 
m'level best to get rid of the peril as quickly as possible." She grins 
briefly, then indeed sets to decimating the bowl of soup with a most 
hearty appetite.

T'fian smiles at the slip the Weyrwoman made. "I just wanted to make 
sure. There's no gold with this group, and I'd like them to see how the 
Queens' Wing fights." He nods, just realizing he's interrupting Kassima 
and looks back to Emlyn. "How many times have you checked your straps, 
Weyrling?" he asks, with the barest hint of a smile.

Emlyn sits up straighter and, though she sees a hint of smile in T'fian's 
expression, she answers seriously, "Five for the primary set and two for 
the secondary, Sir. There's time for me to check the secondary again," she 
adds.

Kindre grins, her eyes briefly peering over towards the bowl. "Well, I 
don't even feel a sneeze or sniffle, so I think I'll fare fine. -How-," 
she says dramatically and rolls her eyes, "you can eat those insufferable 
things is beyond me." Her hand goes to lie on her stomach, "I always, no 
matter how many times we fly, get that tiny knot in my belly. Fear or 
anticipation...maybe both," then shrugs her shoulders. Grinning at Emlyn's 
answer, she wonders, "Hmm. T'fian? The Weyrlings will be available to 
bring 'throwers if we need them, won't they?"

Emlyn is about to speak up when Kindre asks about 'throwers, but hushes 
when she realizes the question is addressed to T'fian.

T'ren walks in from the bowl.

Kylee walks in from the bowl.

T'fian grins and sits down, finally. He glances at Kindre, then back at 
the weyrling. "The day her group was to fly their first fall, they all 
came running up to me complaining about their straps. They fought me 
kicking and screaming the entire way as I was stressing to them how 
important their straps were and proper construction of them, and they 
wouldn't have any of it. Until they actually really had to use them in a 
'Fall."

R'val looks over in surprise and spots Kylee, smiling widely and waving 
to her, 'Kylee! What a surprise to see you here!"

T'ren walks in with the lady Journeyrank Weaver.

Kylee waves at R'val. "Sir."

Kassima chuckles at Kindre. "Consider it one of those peculiar cravings, 
if'n 'twill make it easier to understand, though i'truth I eat them all 
the time. If'n 'twere me 'twere asking, I'd say 'tis both--and perhaps a 
good shot of adrenaline, as well." Nodding to the familiar Weaver, she 
greets her with, "Benden's duties to the Weavercraft, Journeywoman."

T'fian looks over at T'ren and his companion. "Journeyman," he says 
politely, inclining his head.

R'val chuckles "Just R'val, Kylee."

Kylee half-bows and smiles excitedly. "Weavercraft's duties to the weyr."

Emlyn grins at T'fian's story about the weyrlings. She leans toward Kindre 
during all the greetings to Kylee and says, "Sionelle's had us tossing 
'throwers, too, Ma'am."

Kindre smiles as T'ren and his companion re-enter the cavern. "Benden's 
duties to the Weavercraft," she remarks upon seeing the knot on Kylee's 
shoulder. Smirking a bit at T'fian's recount, she nods. "I see. Well, to 
be true, you can't ever check them enough. I'll admit to scrutinizing 
mine most of this day and yesterday."

T'ren smiles and makes introductions to the Benden Weyr riders, crafters, 
residents, etc.

T'ren winks at Kylee, "Ever used a flamethrower before?"

Emlyn salutes Kylee when the introductions pass over her. She smiles.

Kylee nods and murmurs. "R'val." She nods at the others in the room and 
blinks at T'ren. "Once...several Turns ago."

Kindre smiles at Emlyn. "Wonderful...I should have known Sionelle would 
have. Shells, for as often as she drilled it into me, as well as 
T'fian..." Taking a moment to chuckle over some recollection, she shrugs. 
"In any case, if it's going to be as messy as I've been told, I may need 
the back-up."

Kassima grins at Kin and admits ruefully, "Strap-making's become one of 
m'time killers these days, actually. I now have Lysseth's old set 
repaired, her Gather set tended to, a new set, a new backup set, and an 
extra set in the works even now. Those should serve almost through the 
next Turn once we're back up in the air."

Emlyn shifts as another rider she respects talks about how messy things 
might get.

Kylee snags a seat close enough she can hear the conversation but not so 
close she appears to be intruding. She leans forward a bit to listen.

Emlyn shifts yet again, and says, "Well, the winds tend to swirl in 
hills. So, we'll need to be looking over our shoulders, too."

"Mayhaps you could fix up Hera's Gather straps, then," Kindre proposes to 
Kassima before grinning wide. "I, to be true, really should work on those. 
But lately I've barely had the time to tend to our fighting harnesses." 
Nodding to Emlyn, she concurs. "True enough. Just be alert, both you and 
Pleiath, and listen to the Weyrlingmasters. You'll fare wonderfully."

T'fian doesn't note that if any of the weyrlings die, Sionelle'll kill 
all of them as that is too morbid to say in front of a weyrling... or 
anybody else.

Kassima nods to Kindre, eagerly. "Aye, certes! I can work on them while 
we're in the Records Room, if'n y'like, and have 'em completed a'fore the 
next 'Fall. I couldn't make you a new set, a'course, but repair on the 
old ones shouldn't be a problem." The sheer depth of her usual daily 
boredom is outlined by her enthusiasm for this proposal.

Emlyn nods at Kindre's words of warning. She smiles to reassure herself as 
much as the goldrider. "Our wing is flying well. We're ready." If so, why 
does she keep repeating that?

"Oh, I couldn't let you," Kindre shakes her head to Kassima, "though I 
may -have- to take you up on the offer...'tween that and Alyssa's 
training, I've little time to blink, let alone sleep these sevendays. 
Anyhow, you have to try to figure out what those odd ones are that I can't 
quite read." Regarding Emlyn with a reassuring smile, she nods. "I've 
heard, dearheart. If you weren't, believe me, they'd not let you fly."

T'fian looks quietly at Emlyn and nods at Kindre's words to the weyrling.

R'val stands quietly and walks out.

R'val walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Kassima sighs with regret. "You couldn't? Shards. Well, mayhaps I can 
start trying to make a stuffed dragon one of these days; Meli said she'll 
loan me hers for the pattern, and Faranth knows I'll need the practice.... 
Aye, there is that." She brightens at Kin's mention of the odd Records, 
then nods a silent agreement with the queenrider's last statement.

Emlyn takes comfort in Kindre's observation. It's true, after all. Even 
Sionelle wouldn't want all the weyrlings to get threaded. It'd reflect 
badly on her reputation.

"Now, if Jerissa ever lets me free of sewing up tunnelsnakes," Kindre 
chuckles, "We'll have to search those records out, Kassi."

R'val walks in from the bowl.

R'val walks back in and resumes his seat near the others.

Kassima bobs her head once in affirmation. "Aye, indeed--and that reminds 
me of something; you see Jerissa more than I do, I think. Could you 
mayhaps ask of her whether or nay she could use more tunnelsnakes? Nay all 
of m'fair care for 'snake meat, so I often have one or two t'spare; I make 
a practice of using the stuff for bait or feeding other fire-lizards with 
it, but it'd just as well serve another cause."

T'fian stands up. "If you will excuse me, R'gan wanted me to oversee his 
wing's preparation."

Kindre shudders, "Kassi, if I give her more, she'll have me sew up 
more...though," she swallow, mananging a grin, "I'll surely ask. Feh, 
believe it or not, I'm actually getting sharding good at stiching."

T'fian walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Kindre nods over to T'fian. "Of course...we'll see you later this eve...
shards, I always miss."

Kylee sits back, looking a bit bewildered at the mention of sewing 
tunnelsnakes together. She finally manages a quiet interjection. "I could 
help you stitch some if you like. I'm sure it can't be much tougher than 
mending socks."

North Bowl> K'tyn salutes T'fian, a large rolled bundle under his arm. 
"Sir!"

North Bowl> T'fian walks out of the living cavern, glass of citron 
juice in one hand. "Good eve, wingleader," he says as K'tyn dismounts 
Prometh.

Emlyn wrinkles her nose in distaste at the idea of sewing tunnelsnakes.

North Bowl> K'tyn grins, "A fine night, hm? Or it will be, once thread 
has gone from the sky. Is Kassima within?" He nods at the LC.

"But nay so often as I do," Kassi points out to Kin as she salutes after 
the already-departed Weyrsecond. "'Tis good t'hear that you're getting 
good at it; if'n you can sew aught but straps at all, you're far ahead of 
me!"

North Bowl> T'fian walks over to Meroth, then pauses. "Yes, she is," 
he answers. "But really quickly, I wanted to ask how Daelyth's clutch is? 
I've not been out to Igen to see it."

Kindre smiles at Kylee. "Oh, I'd love the help, though it is part of my 
training." Pointing in the direction of the bowl, which leads towards the 
infirmary entrance, she notes, "Jerissa has us practice stiching up 
expired tunnelsnakes so when we do it on dragons, we're not going in 
completely blind. You'll be in the ground crews this eve, if I heard 
T'ren correctly?"

R'val glances with a smile at Kylee, "Nice to see a visitor so eager to 
help out." He remarks.

Emlyn listens to the talk about sewing 'snakes. Her look of distaste 
could curdle milk. When the subject turns to ground-crewing, she relaxes, 
commenting in a lull, "I've done that at the Reaches."

Kassima laughs quietly. "That reminds me of the time Thera and I helped 
out with filling firestone sacks on a visit here, months a'fore either of 
us were Searched. There's *always* work t'be done around 'Fall-time, make 
nay mistake of that! Capable hands are generally more than welcome. Kin, 
just how d'you stitch 'em up? I saw that one in the Infirmary, sewed from 
neck t'tail--a rather intersting display."

Kylee grins at R'val. "Well sewing's not really a /chore/ you know." She 
winks and then nods a bit excitedly, "I think I'm supposed to yes."

North Bowl> K'tyn laughs quietly. "Tis a fine clutch, or so I think--
Looks to be a large number of bronzes, and that's all for the good." He 
shifts the rolled bundle from his arm. "If you like sir, you may view the 
pictures I've had made of the eggs...Kassi did beg, and I thought that it 
would be a fine thing to have on my wall."

R'val grins at Kylee, "Well, I'm sure you'll help.' He winks.

North Bowl> T'fian grins. "Thank you, Wingleader, but I should be off. 
R'gan's rather uncomfortable leading a wing into 'Fall, and I need to talk 
with him about it. I do look forward to seeing Prometh's first clutch 
later though."

"Had you, Emlyn?" Kindre wonders. "I never worked in the ground crews at 
Half Circle. Dah and my brothers mostly handled the chore for our 
family...though I occasionally snuck out to see the dragons going overhead 
beforehand." Smiling again to Kylee, she nods. "Wonderful...true enough, 
as Kassi says, any hands are welcome ones during Fall." Lips wrinkling up 
in distaste, Kin ends up smirking. "Well, it's mostly to prepare us to the 
feel of a needle into flesh. A dragon's skin is different that wherhide, 
which I'm more used to because of the straps. Mostly we practice from 
tailtip up, or from neck down."

Kylee looks over at Emlyn curiously. "You're from the Reaches?"

Emlyn nods at Kindre's question, then smiles at Kylee. "Literally, 
Journeywoman. My parents have a cothold in the Reaches. Maybe you've 
heard of it? Four Pines?" Hah! Maybe you've heard of it. Emlyn pauses for 
a moment, then goes on, "But I moved to the weyr when I was about 16 turns 
and fostered there for a couple turns. Then came here for Herath's 
clutch." She nods at Kindre.

"Neither had I, at Greystones," Kassi sighs. "Mum was a bit 
overprotective; she'd never let me do *anything* interesting, besides the 
knife training and whatnay." Toying with a stray rib bone, she nods to 
Kin. "Aye... I assume you use the smooth-skinned sort, then, rather than 
scaled? That wouldn't approximate dragon-hide very well."

North Bowl> K'tyn nods. "Certainly, sir. I am sure Kassi will be 
monopolizing them for a while. She wants to make some rocks."

North Bowl> K'tyn adds, "Paint some rocks, that is."

North Bowl> T'fian blinks, but even though that last sentence makes no 
sense to him, he is in rather a hurry, so doesn't ask about it. "I'll see 
you soon," he says, then pauses. "Oh. I see what you mean."

North Bowl> K'tyn grins. "Aye sir."

K'tyn walks in from the bowl.

Kylee nods at Emlyn. "Actually I have heard of it." She smiles, "I'm from 
that area myself."

K'tyn nods at one and all, "Heyla, everyone."

K'tyn moves toward Kassima, bowing almost elaborately before her. 
"Madame--your pictures." He has a roll of (hide? Paper? Canvas?) in his 
hands.

Emlyn's jaw drops open as she stares at Kylee. She says, "Even the 
sweepriders who pass over it, my friends at the weyr, didn't know the 
plateau had a name." She grins and shakes her head. "Well. There are more 
surprises under the two moons, my Da used to say, than there are blades of 
grass in the north paddock."

Kassima salutes Kiat with the rib-bone she has in her hand, presenting a 
truly odd picture between that gesture, the water lilies in her sodden 
hair, and the towel draped over her shoulders. "Oh, Kiat, you got them!" 
she exclaims, delighted. "Did the sketches turn out well? Do they have 
good colors for painting?"

K'tyn grins at Kassima."I'll let you be the judge--but I am rather proud 
of them, regardless."

Kylee starts grinning. "Believe my father visited there once to trade a 
few of our llamas with the small stock you keep there to refresh the 
bloodlines a bit."

Kindre blinks suddenly, her eyes focussing on K'tyn as he steps closer 
into the room. "Sorka's Faranth...forgive," she quickly offers apologies, 
her expression clearing to the here and now. Nodding towards the cavern's 
door, she sighs, "Herath giving me her two marks worth about checking our 
straps again." Taking a long drink from her mug, she sits a bit on the 
edge of her seat.

Emlyn is too involved in old cothold sevenday with Kylee to salute and 
notice comings and goings. "Why, I think I know your Da, then." She sits 
back, pleased.

Kassima laughs and holds out her hands. "All right, then, I'll judge--just 
let me see the pictures! Kin, you should see these too--they're of 
Prometh's clutch. I'm going to make another set of egg-stones for Kiat."

T'lar walks in from the bowl.

P'tran walks in from the bowl.

Salless tells her girls to look sharp when the weyrleader walks in.

R'val smiles, nodding a respectful greeting to the weyrleader as he 
enters.

K'tyn grins, laying the roold pictures into Kassima's hands. "All yours! 
I'll let you 'ooh' and 'ah' whilst I get a drink. I am very thirsty!"

T'lar smiles broadly as he saunters into the living cavern. He casually 
salutes as necessary with an added nod to P'tran.

P'tran gives a curt nod to everyone as he enters the caverns, several 
scrolls tucked under his arm. He looks a little harried, as if he were 
behind schedule and were struggling to get caught up.

Kylee nods enthusiastically. "You might. Do you remember Kylel at all?" 
She trails off a bit and shies back in her seat.

T'lar snags a mug of citron juice on his way over to where Kassima is 
seated. He gives her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

P'tran heads for the nearest table and looks over to K'tyn. "K'tyn, come 
over here for a moment, please." he says to him. He places the scrolls on 
the table and proceeds to unfold one of them

Kassima accepts the pictures with a broad smile, starting to unroll them 
but then halting as she catches sight of the incoming bronzeriders. To 
the Weyrleader, she gives her smartest salute; to T'lar, she waves in a 
less formal greeting. "Evening, Weyrleader sir. Evening, T'lar." She sets 
the hide down on the table long enough to return the latter's hug, 
grinning at him. "Heya, y'bronzeriding rogue. Ready for the 'Fall?"

Asrai walks in from the bowl.

P'tran glances over towards the bowl. "Actually, I should get my 'seconds 
to hear this as well."

T'lar says "Always, Kassi. I'll miss you and Lysseth up there, but we'll 
do the job."

"Evening, Weyrleader," Kindre offers while peering over her juice. Her 
hand still sits on her stomach in a vaguely protective expression. 
Looking over the scrools presented to the greenrider, she finally wonders, 
"What have you there, Kassi...Kiat? Oh, eve Asrai, T'lar," she adds with a 
smile.

Asrai jogs into the Lower Cavern giving off a sharp salute to the riders 
before making her way over to the weyrling table. From time to time she 
wipes her hands on her legs.

T'fian walks in from the bowl.

Salless waves her dustcloth at the wingleader of Skyfire.

Kylee mutters to Emlyn, "... do... in... during this?"

P'tran looks up to see T'fian walk in and waves him over to the table 
where he has a threadfall chart open in front of him.

T'fian walks into the living cavern at a brisk pace. He pauses, his eyes 
adjusting to the glows inside the cavern, then salutes P'tran. "Meroth 
said you wanted to see me, sir?" he asks, approaching the weyrleader.

T'lar says "Evening, all." He favors Kindre and the other ladies with a 
bright smile.

Kassima sighs regretfully, shaking her head. "You'll nay miss me up there 
any more than I'll miss being up there, I assure you. These are sketches 
of Prometh's eggs, Kin!" She finally unrolls the scrolls, eyes widening 
with appreciation of the lovely drawings. "Shells, Kiat! They're 
beautiful! They do their sire proud, i'truth and very deed."

Emlyn looks surprised by Kylee's question. "No, stay. Unless somebody 
tells you to leave, that is."

P'tran nods to T'fian. "Yes, and I'm running a little behind, so this 
will have to be quick. Latest patrols show some bad weather moving in on 
Valley, but not soon enough to drown the Thread, I'm afraid."

K'tyn turns back, walking to the table with the rolled up papers, now 
spread out for all to see. "Aye, a fine clutch, that I'll agree with, 
Kassi."

Kylee nods mutely and watches all the comings and goings with renewed 
interest.

P'tran looks over to K'tyn as he approaches. "Is Skyfire still a little 
underdragoned?"

T'fian nods. "V'dant's been out in that area," he says. "I was hoping 
though to give the weyrlings a better fall, but I can't argue with the 
weather." He looks over at K'tyn at P'tran's question.

T'lar sits at the table occupied by his friends. He spots Kylee and 
smiles. "Hi. Have we met?"

K'tyn nods. "Aye, sir. But I'm thinking we'll be flying support, this time 
about. Not enough manpower for the whole fall."

Alyssa walks in from the bowl.

Asrai glances around, clearly on the nervous side. In reminisence of her 
time before finding Cygnith, Asrai pops a lock of hair in her mouth and 
begins to chew on it avidly.

T'lar smiles at Alyssa as she enters.

T'fian looks between K'tyn and P'tran. "Skyfire has more riders than that, 
sir," he says. "They're undermanned, but still have enough to fly 'Fall, 
in my opinion. We should be using the weyrlings for support rather than a 
fighting wing."

Kylee shakes her head. "No sir. Uhmmm. Journeyman Kylee."

Emlyn excuses herself from where she's sitting with Kylee and moves to sit 
with Asrai. She murmurs to her queitly.

P'tran hrms and frowns a bit at K'tyn's report. "Normally I'd say yes, fly 
support, but the winds are going to prove to be tricky if things hold up 
as they are." He glances around the caverns at some of the Weyrlings and 
turns to T'fian. "Would you be comfortable with some Weyrlings in a 
support role, in additional to flying 'stone to us?"

Kindre, hand still on her nervous stomach, slides over towards Kassima to 
peer over the sketchings. "Oh...and true! They are indeed lovely. I've a 
cousin, I just found out, Standing for Igen's upcoming Hatching. I'll 
surely," she notes and smiles, "have more than enough reasons now to get 
a gather at those lovely eggs upon the Sands." Lifting her head from the 
scrolls, her eyes fall to the collection of leaders discussing the 
Threadfall. Glancing away a moment, she waves to Alyssa. "Evening 
Wingsecond," she offers formally.

Kerlyn walks in from the bowl.

T'lar nods. "T'lar, rider of Nicoth. Nice to meet you."

T'fian nods to P'tran. "Sionelle says they're ready," he replies. "And I 
trust her judgement."

Kerlyn salutes the weyrleader adn wingleaders as she strides into the 
bowl, helmet tucked under her other arm.

Emlyn is sitting with Asrai and the other weyrlings. Seeing Kerlyn, she 
salutes sharply.

Kylee murmurs a quiet "Well met."

K'tyn frowns at T'fian. "I'll bend to your wisdom, sir. I don't want to 
risk injury at need--that was my wish for the wing."

Though not at all dressed for riding and 'Fall, Alyssa salutes the 
Weyrleader, the weyrwoman, the weyrsecond, and wingleaders before 
continuing on into the living cavern.

P'tran nods to T'fian, gettoing his answer almost the moment he speaks the 
question. "All right, then we'll do that." He nods again and grins 
slightly, "And considering how tough Sionelle's standards are, if she 
says they're ready, they're ready."

"That may be an understatement, Kiat. While nay clutch can match 
Dyinath's for beauty in m'eyes, these are fair eggs indeed....." Kassi 
looks up from the scroll to nod in smiling agreement with Kindre before 
shooting a salute towards Alyssa. "Evening, Wingsecond."

T'fian nods and smiles. "She'd not say anything to damage her reputation," 
he chuckles.

Asrai nods to Emlyn, "I know, I know...but they're all talking about us." 
She stands quickly, banging her shin against the bench as she salutes 
Kerlyn sharply.

P'tran looks back to K'tyn. "I think it would be good to have the 
Weyrlings closest to Skyfire when they're not flying 'stone to us. That 
should make up for the defecit in Skyfire."

Kerlyn's jaw twitches, a little like it might if she were clenching it 
tighter, when she walks past the wingleaders close enough to catch part 
of their discussion. She returns the weyrling's salutes, joining them. 
"Have you checked your straps and gear over again?"

T'lar keeps one ear cocked to the weyrleaders conversation, but speaks to 
the journeyman weaver. "Been at Benden long?"

Emlyn nods to Asrai, but doesn't speak. She, too, is trying to hear what's 
been said about Northern Lights.

K'tyn nods. "Aye Sir. That would definitely help! I'll go to check on some 
things, and then return momentarily."

Asrai nods emphatically, her short hair bobbling, "Yes ma'am, three times 
so far today, ma'am."

P'tran nods to K'tyn. "When you get back, head for the bowl, I'm going to 
start assembling the Wings now."

Emlyn answers Kerlyn, 'Yes, ma'am. And the backups, too. All the wing, in 
fact. Asrai and I checked them ourselves, soon as we heard the rumor."

R'val hears P'tran's words and rises to his feet after finishing his klah.

K'tyn smiles Lys and Kindre as he passes. "Got to get dressed! I thank you 
for your kind words, though I know they're but the truth."

Alyssa steps to one side; like her dragon, she is trying to stay out of 
the way, albeit watchful.

K'tyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

P'tran looks over to T'fian. "Let's keep Skyfire out of the wind if we 
can. Thunderbolt and Dawnslight are up to full strength and can take the 
leading edge." He starts to roll up the map.

T'ren returns from running checking the threadfall charts. Yeah, that's 
it.

Kindre returns to her seat, remaining quiet for the now. Her hand finally 
slips to her side, rather than it's protective cover on her stomach, and 
she sips more of her juice.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Benden dragons with << All dragons and 
riders flying Fall should start to assemble in the north bowl. >>

North Bowl> Nicoth rumbles to Tzornth in greeting.

T'fian takes a deep breath, but keeps his doubts about the weyrlings clear 
from his face. He looks after K'tyn, then back at the Weyrleader. "If the 
weyrlings are going to be flying so close to Skyfire," he says slowly, 
obviously not liking to put the wing he'd commanded for so long so far a
way from the leading edge, "then that's for the best. Are we going to have 
the weyrlings fly full 'Fall?"

North Bowl> Pleiath rolls on her haunches and peers about her. The 
excitement the little green is feeling shows up in the speed and color of 
her eyes.

North Bowl> Tzornth rumbles back deeply to the younger bronze dragon. 
He and his rider appear to already be equipped for the Fall, as is their 
custom.

P'tran considers for a moment and then shakes his head. "No, we'll bring 
them in partway through when we need more 'stone as we always do. Though 
Sionelle says they're ready, this *is* their first and I don't want to 
overtax them."

Kerlyn frowns just slightly, then nods and forces a smile. "Well, no one 
would put you in a situation you're not ready for. It's time to see how 
well your hard work in training has paid off." She gestures for the 
weyrlings to wait just a moment while she finishes. "Sorath and I will be 
flying with your wing, and do try to remember that heroics aren't going to 
impress anyone."

North Bowl> Herath sits quietly, much like her unseen rider, and looks 
the part of calm and ready. Shaking a bit, as if testing her own harness, 
she awaits the arrival of her lifemate.

T'lar sips his juice, listening and watching the controlled preFall chaos.

North Bowl> Prometh yawns mightily, getting to his feet. He rumbles to 
the other dragons brassily, well ready for this fight against the ancient 
foe.

Asrai swallows almost audibly, "Yes ma'am." Again she looks over to the 
leaders...never having been comfortable with being the center of 
attention..all this talk of the weyrlings being ready or not seems to wear 
on her more then the thought of threadfall.

T'lar looks over at Asrai. "You nervous?"

T'fian nods. "Yes, sir," he says, then turns and looks around at the 
weyrlings in the cavern. To Kerlyn, he calls, "Are all of the weyrlings 
flying tonight?"

Emlyn listens to Kerlyn, trying to block out the other activity in the 
cavern. When Kerlyn mentions that heroics are to be avoided, Emlyn looks 
over at S'ner.

P'tran looks over to Kerlyn as he hands the threadfal charts over to a 
wingmate. "Could you come here for a moment?"

Kassima passes her empty plates off to one of those ubiquitous passing 
people on serving duty, toying absently with one of the water-lilies 
festooning her hair as she listens to the talk. It's hard to imagine any 
rider looking wistful about not being able to fly 'Fall, but that's the 
only word for Kassi's expression right now. "Lys," she calls over to the 
Wingsecond, "is there aught that I can help with on the ground? I may nay 
be a Dragonhealer, but I can fetch and carry as well as the next person 
can."

North Bowl> Vidarth's eyes whirl redly as he rises to his feet, wings 
rustling in a mighty shaking as he looks skywards.

"I suppose I should check the level of my flamethrower and doublecheck my 
straps once more," Kindre remarks quietly. "P'tran...Sir," she interupts 
a moment, "Anything you need me to know afore I go to Herath?"

Asrai reaches up to push some of her hair out of her face as she addresses 
T'lar. "About how Cygnith and I will do...no sir. about everyone talking 
about us...yes."

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Sinith chews firestone 
<<eeeew!>>

Alyssa sighs and nods to Kassima, murmuring unhappily, "I'd appreciate it. 
We're setting up in the bowl now...if you've time, Kassima."

Kerlyn turns to T'fian, "No sir. We've one in the infirmary with a ligtly 
strained wing, and another with a rider who has a broken ankle- he tripped 
on his straps this morning." She makes her way across teh cavern towards 
the weyrleader, "Of course sir. Wait for me out in the bowl.. form up 
south of the fighting wings." The last is over her shoudler to the 
weyrlings.

P'tran looks over to Kindre and shakes his head. " I think everything 
is... oh, you could check with the dragonhealers and see if they're ready. 
Hopefully we won't need their services today."

T'lar says "It will be okay. They will continue to talk about you even 
after you graduate." He tosses back the last of the juice. "Only then 
you'll be talked about in a wing instead of as Weyrlings. Same thing."

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Tzornth lets off with a long and 
eloquent rumble, just to remind you all of his presence. And the fact that 
he has not done so in quite some time. He is Tzornth, and he is strong, 
and swift. His rider is with him, and they are prepared for the coming 
struggle with the Thread!

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Sinith yawns.

T'fian nods and takes a step away from the weyrleader as Kerlyn 
approaches. He looks over at Alyssa. "You okay?" he mouths.

Kylee keeps looking around trying to follow several conversations at once.

Emlyn hears Kerlyn's instructions and jumps up. She grabs the coil of 
straps at her feet and rushes out.

T'ren walks over to Kylee and gives her shoulder a squeeze, "Confused?"

Alyssa smiles at T'fian, reassuring. "Fine, Weyrsecond, thank you. Take 
care of Skyfire for me...and Meroth too."

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Nicoth peeers at Tzornth. <<And 
who are you again?>> Dragons have short memories.

"Time is one thing I certes have in plenty," the greenrider murmurs back 
to the Wingsecond. "Just point at what needs doing, and I'll do it if'n I 
can."

Asrai grabs her own straps and follows quickly after.

Kylee nods several times. "Of course." She smiles slightly. "Nothing new 
with me though."

North Bowl> Laerth backwings for a landing.

Emlyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Tzornth is Tzornth. 'Nuff said!

Dragon> Adonith bespoke Threadfall Comm with << An ego unto 
himself is Tzornth! >>

"Alright, Sir," Kindre nods quickly. "Alyssa...?" though her words cut 
off as the Weyrsecond approaches her. Instead, she tells Kassima, "Just 
be careful, okay? If you need anything, let me know. Same to you, Alyssa, 
though I won't be able to help much with injuries..." That all said, she 
heads out into the bowl.

North Bowl> Nicoth stands and moves into position with Skyfire.

T'fian chuckles ruefully. "Skyfire'll be fine," he says, still somewhat 
unhappy with the decision, but unwilling to argue it. "They're flying 
behind Dawnslight and Thunderbolt."

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Lysseth simply yawns. Loudly.

Asrai walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Kindre walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

North Bowl> Pleiath warbles happily when her rider appears. Emlyn tries 
to hush her dragon and get her into straps as quickly as possible.

P'tran looks over to Kerlyn. "Have the Weyrlings ready to join us perhaps 
about a quarter of the way through the Fall. That's a little earlier than 
we normally bring them in, but we'll need the support on Skyfire's side of 
the Fall."

T'ren looks to P'tran, waiting for him to assemble ThunderBolt Wing.

Kerlyn salutes again as she joins the crowd of riders around P'tran. Her 
lips purse. "Then they will still be staying to fight, Sir? Not just 
replenish?"

Alyssa nods to T'fian, touches his hand briefly, then, taking Kassima's 
arm, she makes her way fairly quickly to the bowl.

Alyssa walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

North Bowl> Asrai makes her way over to Cygnith who greets her with a 
*BUGLE* forcefull enough to fan her hair. With a smile for her lifemate, 
Asrai begins the process of securing the straps.

North Bowl> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan lifts his brown gaze to the 
riders beginning to stream to their dragons. The bronze rider watches with 
his usual solemnity and alertness, one gloved hand poised on his riding 
straps.

You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Benden LC> T'lar stands. Picking up jacket and helmet, he heads out to 
the bowl.

Spineth backwings for a landing.

T'lar comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Benden LC> P'tran nods to Kerlyn. "Yes, but as support," he emphasizes. 
"They'll fill in as needed, rather than having them as a full fighting 
wing. Let's continue this discussion in the bowl."

T'fian comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Sinith lumbers here from the south.

P'tran comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Kerlyn comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

T'fian strides out of the living cavern, putting on his helmet. 
"Weyrling!" he calls out to the nearest one. "Firestone."

Ursa climbs carefully down with the assistance of Spineth's extended 
forelimb.

Kindre strides right up to her gold, her expression mostly unreadable. 
Herath sniffs Kindre over in a calming gesture. "I know, dearheart..." 
the rider murmurs to the dragon while tugging the harness embracing 
Herath.

P'tran calls out for al the wings to assemble for Fall and calls over for 
'stone for his own dragon.

Asrai finishes the last cinch and rushes to get T'fian the firestone he 
called for. "Here you are sir!"

T'ren comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Kerlyn leaves the living cavern on the weyrleader's heel, jogging to keep 
up, lest she miss hte answer to her question. Her helmet is still firmly 
jammed against her side with one elbow, but she pulls her gloves out of 
her pocket.

T'lar checks Nicoth's straps before calling for firestone.

T'ren patpats Sinith's nose.

Emlyn gets Pleiath into her straps, then fastens up her own gear. She has 
stone the correct size for Pleiath nearby, but doesn't feed it to the 
eager green yet.

P'tran calls over to Ursa. "Ursa, Dawslight is going to take center, 
Thunderbolt into the wind on the south flank, Skyfire on the north."

T'ren rolls his eyes at Sinith, "No, I don't know if they've made progress 
on creating Wherry-Flavored Firestone."

Kassima follows Alyssa out, pausing only to salute all of the various 
Leader-types assembled in the Bowl. "I'm yours to command, Wingsecond," 
she tells Lys. "What is it that you require?"

R'val comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Tzornth RUMBLES deeply at Laerth as Thunderbolt Wing begins to gather. 
F'hlan, ready for business, takes in P'tran's orders, nodding once, 
firmly.

T'fian nods to Asrai, taking the bag from her. He walks over to his pale 
blue and quickly empties the 'stone into the dragon's maw, calling out for 
more as he tosses the bag aside.

Ursa pauses checking Spineth's straps when P'tran calls to her. "Yes, 
sir!" she calls in acknowledgement.

R'val walks out after the others, heading determinedly towards Vidarth, 
who is rumbling softly, his eyes whirling faster now. He takes a bag of 
firestone from a weyrling nearby and begins to strap it to the blue's 
side, feeding him a lump in passing. Rumbling cavernously, the blue chews.

P'tran turns to Kerlyn after tossing a 'stone into Laerth's mouth. "The 
weyrlings will have to be prepared to do some fighting of their own most 
likely, so make sure al their dragons are fully loaded on 'stone 
themselves as well before they go up."

Kindre, mostly satisfied with the harness, lets her eyes flick across the 
faces of the fighters in the bowl, human and dragon alike. Tapping the 
small indicator on her flamethrower, she seems equally satisfied with that 
and stands simply waiting for instructions.

T'lar begins feeding 'stone to Nicoth. As the bronze chews, T'lar ties the 
other sacks to the rings on the straps.

Kerlyn's jaw tightens ever-so-slightly, but she salutes smartly. "Aye 
sir." Turning on one heel, she heads back towards the forming weyrling 
formation, picking up a bag of 'stone on her way.

Asrai holds the firestone sack until T'fian takes it from her hands, her 
feet steady as she waits. Not doing the shifting back and forth as some of 
the other Weyrlings.

Emlyn helps some of her wingmates repair a pyramid of stone that some 
lumbering ox of a bronze knocked over with his tail.

Ursa finishes her strap-check, and then immediately grabs a sack of stone. 
Spineth regards her with quickly-whirling eyes as she starts to feed him 
the stone. He chews it with an eagerness only a dragon could have.

Portock comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Dragonhealer trainees and other apprentices are bustling about in 
preparation for the 'Fall as well, though Alyssa notes to Kassima, 
quietly, "In truth, we just try to keep ourselves occupied while the 
wings get ready to leave. Most of the others have gotten the supplies 
ready. And I hate this part."

Kerlyn drops the sack of stone next to her dragon, and signals for the 
weyrlings to join her.

Portock walks over to Alyssa noting that she has most of the apprentices 
running around getting things ready, "Things good to go?"

K'tyn readies Prometh's straps, checking the roundels and clasps to be 
sure they are securely fastened. "Skyfire," he says clearly, "You heard 
the Weyrleader. We're to the north, with the weyrlings."

Emlyn leaves off the stone-stacking and joins Kerlyn.

Kylee comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Asrai looks torn, but then drops the stone next to T'fian's feet and 
rushes off to join Kerlyn and the others.

T'ren gives his straps one last check and patpats Sinith's nose, "Okay, 
no upside down acrobatics this time."

T'lar is catapulted up by a quick movement of Nicoth's snout. He gets the 
bronze an affectionate slap.

Kylee moves next to the Healer.

T'ren clambers up Sinith's proffered foreleg and settles between his 
neckridges.

Meroth lumbers over to the dragons along the northern flank, standing 
near the Skyfire dragons. His rider looks over at Kerlyn and the 
weyrlings, appraising their formation, then back at the Skyfire formation. 
"Shardit, N'grom, pull in tighter. Ten golds could fly through that gap."

From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren buckles himself into the straps.

P'tran overhears T'ren and raises an eyebrow slightly but says nothing. He 
gives his dragon's straps a final check and pulls on his helmet, tying the 
strap under his chin. "Riders, mount up!" he shouts.

T'fian pulls himself up Meroth's foreleg, grasping the blue's riding 
straps, and settles between his neckridges.

Kassima nods to Alyssa, expression rueful. "As do I. 'Twas almost a 
relief at first, but it gets harder every time to watch the Wings forming 
up without me...." She quirks a smile, and shrugs. "I'm certain 'tis the 
same for every grounded rider."

R'val uses Vidarth's side straps to mount up agilely, settling onto the 
little blue's back and straightening. He pets his lifemate's head once as 
Vidarth rumbles excitedly, ready to fly.

Kindre gives Herath a soft, loving pat on the side. Humbling her oft high-
held muzzle, Herath dips close to the ground and Kindre half-steps, half-
tugs herself up with courtly ease. An unusally easy and contented glint is 
in her eyes as her lifemate bestrides her.

Ursa clambers up onto Spineth's back with the assistance of an extended 
forelimb.

From atop Nicoth, T'lar buckles in and triple-checks the straps.

Tzornth engages himself in the business of munching his stone, his eyes 
whirling progressively more towards the orange, continual rumbles of 
anticipation thrumming through his length. F'hlan shoves his hair out of 
his eyes, back up under his helmeet where it belongs, and tugs his goggles 
into place.

From Meroth's neck, T'fian pulls on his riding gloves after cinching 
himself tightly into the straps.

From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren slips on his gloves and tests his left 
shoulder, judging it fit enough again.

Alyssa steps further away from the dragons as the riders mount up in 
preparation for departure, watchful eyes studying the weyrlings carefully 
before moving along to her wingmates in Skyfire. "Shells," she whispers 
to Kassima, "Skyfire looks so small..."

Kerlyn's gloves tap against her thigh as she starts to speak.. a habit 
she's apparently picked up from Sionelle. "I'm certain all of you have 
heard rumours flying around as to what your role in this fall is going to 
be. If you were listening to the Weyrleader's briefing, you'll have heard 
that some of you will be remaining after we deliver the replenishment 
sacks, and you will be fighting fall. You will -not- be put in the leading 
edge, however. If any of you have questions, now would be a very good time 
to ask them."

P'tran takes a step back and looks up and down the line of his own wing. 
He stops for a moment to critize an experienced rider who ought to know 
better about being way too close to his wingmate and then heads back to 
his dragon after the formation is corrected.

P'tran climbs up onto Laerth in one smooth motion.

K'tyn uses both oiled straps and an extended foreleg to mount Prometh. 
Once settled into Prometh's bronze neckridges, K'tyn thanks Prometh 
politely, recieving a basso rummble in return.

Portock looks around and nod approvingly as the apprentices scurry around 
bringing out supplies amidst the bustle of the readying dragons.

From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren regards P'tran as he makes his final 
inspection, ready.

Tzornth and F'hlan return P'tran's gaze levelly, parked where they should 
be, ready for the business at hand.

Gracefully astride Herath, Kindre tugs the harness around Herath again 
before pulling on her gear. Arranging her 'thrower and checking to be 
sure it is fastened tightly, she checks over the wand and turns it to a 
wide settings.

Asrai nods, "Ma'am, which of us will be staying to fight?" Her voice is 
suprisingly calm, nary a waver in its soft timber.

Meroth rumbles, his the color of his eyes fading from bright blue-green 
to a dark, angry red. Pale wings are extended to their full 42 meter 
length as his rider calls out to K'tyn, "Lead my wing well, Bronzerider."

Kylee clears her throat nervously and waits.

Emlyn shakes her head 'no' to Kerlyn's request for question, then asks, 
not knowing she's just shaken her head 'no', "If we're to stay, will we 
just form up on somebody's wing and .. er.. ?"

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Keep sharp, 
everyone, and stay in formation when we're aloft. This is going to prove 
to be a tricky one. Some bad weather is coming in nearby over Valley. >>

Sinith spies the Weaver nearby and whuffles her, sending a soft blast of 
air to disshevel her hair.

Atop Spineth, Ursa settles herself atop Spineth before turning to give the 
Dawnslight wing a cursory glance. Her confidence and an earlier meeting 
have payed off. The formation is exactly as she expects it. One dry nod 
and she turns her eyes to the Weyrleader. The set of her jaw is the one 
thing that betrays how stressed she is.

Dragon> Meroth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << The northern flank 
is in formation, Laerth. We are ready. >>

Prometh trumpets, eager to get to the skies. Kiat, his face pale with 
concentration, stress, and not small amount of worry, merely nods at 
T'fian. He'll do his best, or die trying.

Portock backs away and turns his head from the dust stirred up by the 
lifting dragons, as he does so his eyes catch those of Kylee who followed 
him out grom the Living cavern, "Organized havoc I guess.

Dragon> Spineth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Dawnslight is 
ready, Laerth. >>

Benden Weyr> Mehlani fires up the Empire Strikes Back soundtrack, for 
this fall. :)

Dragon> Prometh bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Skyfire is 
ready. >>

From atop Laerth, P'tran gives a final look around, lifts his arm and then 
lets it drop to signal launch.

Benden Weyr> K'tyn oohs! just what we need.:)

Kylee absentmindedly smoothes the hair back into her braid. She nods in 
response to the Healer. "Yes sir."

Laerth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Meroth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Tzornth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Prometh takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

From Vidarth's back, R'val waves briefly down to Kylee with a smile as 
Vidarth lifts off.

Nicoth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Vidarth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Sinith springs aloft...

Sinith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Herath takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her 
aloft.

Spineth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Above, From atop Laerth, P'tran gives another look around to make sure 
everyone is in formation, raises his arm, then lets it drop to signal the 
move between ...

Portock grins at the weaver, "No sir needed, we're the same rank. Unless 
you want me to call you Ma'am. My name is Portock, Sr. Weyr Healer here."

Above, Laerth disappears into Between.

Above, Nicoth disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Above, Meroth disappears into Between.

Above, Tzornth disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Above, Prometh disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Tzornth emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Pleiath lifts on her haunches and nearly splits her throat open bugling 
to her weyrmates.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Above, Sinith disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Above, Spineth disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Spineth emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Above, Herath disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Herath emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Skies Above Valley Hold> Tzornth roars his arrival, defiantly, 
brassily, and with utter confidence.

Kerlyn nods to Asrai, then shakes her head to Emlyn. "We will be in our 
own wing, since we're used to flying together. There's no need to add the 
unfamiliarity of new wingmates with the new experience of a real fall. 
We're going to be to the North, with Skyfire wing, to augment them. We'll 
do that at a slightly lower level, to pick up what they may miss. This is 
-exactly- what you've been trained to do, it will be just like a rope 
drill. " She sections off part of the weyrling class with a wave of her 
hand. The indicated section includes Asrai and Emlyn. "This is the group 
that will be remaining. The rest will continue to fly replenishment."

Cygnith also raises his muzzle to send farewell to the others.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth forms up on Prometh's right wing. His 
rider signals K'tyn with 'all's well'.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth gives a loud roar before ascending into 
position over the wings briefly so his rider can inspect the ranks.

Above, Vidarth disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Kerlyn lets out a deep breath. "Any other questions?"

Kylee smiles. "Kylee as I mentioned. Well met." She turns to watch the 
dragons leave, sighing at the sight.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Keep it tight, at 
least until we see what we're dealing with. >>

Emlyn looks over at the resupply side, then at the riders remaining around 
her. She says, "Yes, Kerlyn. You'll be leading our detachment?"

Skies Above Valley Hold> From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren hrms and 
notes the unusual crosswinds.

Skies Above Valley Hold> As the fall begins, the clear skies whose 
tranquility was broken only by the beating of dragon wings just a moment 
before become marred by the writhing silver strands of Pern's ancient 
enemy: Thread! The first clumps are swiftly approaching Benden's Wings; 
one, thick with the deadly spiralling shapes, comes within range of 
Herath.

Asrai nods at the decision, "Yes Ma'am." she shares a glance with Emlyn, 
then nods once before turning back to Kerlyn for any further instruction.

Pleiath remains on her haunches, wings extended, until the last dragon is 
gone from sight. Then she drops back down to all fours and turns a quick, 
agitated circle, her tail raised high.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth wings to one side and then the other, 
testing the affect of the winds on his flight. He then quicky descends 
into his place in the wing and roars a warning to Herath as a clump 
surprises them and already falls to the Queens' wing.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Seated upon Prometh, K'tyn checks to be sure 
that Skyfire has stayed in position, and grins to see the people he has 
grown to trust so secure, confident and precise. He pumps his arm, upward, 
an early sign of his faith in their triumph to escape unscathed. The wing 
spreads out, as they have been directed, over the north.

Alyssa sits down on one of the large boulders and looks skyward, fingers 
drumming in a slow, steady rhythm against her thigh. Her attitude is one 
of quiet vigilance and concern.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Several gold dragons wink in below the layers 
of Wings, their forms spread out loosely and behind to catch whatever 
might fall through. Herath and her rider fall in behind and to the right 
of several senior riders, the young pair quickly banking as Kindre sets 
the 'thrower into immediate action. Herath hisses at the clump as the 
charred remains wisp over the pair's head.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth roars at the sight of Pern's ancient 
enemy. A slight adjustment of wing and flame spews forth with deadly 
accuracy.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth bugles, dark red eyes whirling madly at 
the shimmering silvery mass of the thread ahead of him. His rider's eyes 
turn from the angry stormcloud to the 'Fall, then back to view the wings 
along the northern flank of Weyr's formation.

Portock grins as he follows Kylee's gaze to the dragons, "Yes, well met. 
You will have to forget my forgetfulness, I guess I get caught up in all 
the excitement."

Kassima scrutinizes the assembling Wings carefully. "Think of it this way, 
Lys--if'n the Records are right, 'tis a sight larger than some of the 
Wings F'lar had in the beginning of the Ninth Pass. They did all right, 
and Skyfire will too. After all, do they nay have fine leaders?" Folding 
her legs, she sits down on the floor of the Bowl not far from the 
Wingsecond. Now and then, she darts a slightly pensive gaze towards the 
waiting Weyrlings. "Brings back memories, does it nay?" she murmurs to 
Alyssa.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth angles upwards within the streaking 
formation of Dawnslight and savagely flames a dizzily spinning clump of 
Thread that flies almost directly at him, searing it to harmless ash.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From atop Laerth, P'tran immediately gestures 
for a quick change in Thunderbolt formation to lean a bit more into the 
wind and move slightly forward, as that clump had fallen near them on its 
way down.

Kylee's eyes drop back to Portock. A smile spreads across her face, "I 
certainly understand that. But as I said, I do feel a bit useless. Is 
there anything I can help with?"

Skies Above Valley Hold> A blinding blast of dragonfire nearby dazzles 
the eyes of a Skyfire green and her rider for a critical moment. The 
dragon's shrill cry of alarm is cut off as she blinks *between* just in 
time to avoid a nasty scoring, leaving a large Thread-clump to continue 
its fall towards Nicoth.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith adjusts his flight trajectory in 
accordance with Laerth's movement to the wind.

Asrai glances over her shoulders at those remaining. Her tongue darts out 
to lick parched lips...it was not long ago when she was on that side of 
the 'fence'.

Alyssa allows her eyes to travel across the bowl toward the weyrlings and 
just nods to Kassima; if possible her concern seems to increase.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Spineth trumpets the arrival of the ancient 
enemy. It's a challenge, and a threat. He passes on a silent command, and, 
as one, Dawnslight moves forward to meet the leading edge, flying in an 
less-frequently used formation, one that helps the dragons and riders to 
compensate for the high winds.

Kerlyn nods sharply to Emlyn. "That's correct." She dismisses those not 
in her mini-wing to the care of the weyrlingmasters who will be leading 
their sections. "In addition to the stone you'll be handing off to the 
other fighting wings, you'll need enough to sustain yourselves in fighting 
fall. That means you won't be handing off as many bags as the rest, and 
that you've got to be sure your dragons can sustain a flame. You already 
know how to do this, so I'll leave you to ready yourselves. once you've 
handed off your sacks, you'll form on me near Skyfire."

Skies Above Valley Hold> On Tzornth's back, Tzornth's rider, with over 
twenty Turns of Threadfighting under his belt, wings his dragon in sync 
with the Thunderbolt riders, forward in to meet the threat head-on. After 
all the Turns this pair has been at this business, they have learned to 
hone it to an art, their attacks on the silver rain precise and 
methodical, not an ounce of aerial motion or precious firestone wasted. 
Only Tzornth's clarion voice, gleeful both aloud and to the minds of his 
rider and the other dragons, is at odds with their steady, collected 
participation in the battle as it is joined.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth backwings slightly to change his angle 
of attack. Turning his head toward the empty space so recently occupied 
by the green, he blasts forth a jet of crimson flame that leaves only 
black ash in its wake.

Kerlyn continues to shovel 'stone into Sorath's maw, the large blue 
crunching steadily. "Once you're ready, mount up and inform Sorath. I'll 
relay the signal when the rest of the fall is ready for us."

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth surges forward to catch his first 
clump of Thread in this Fall with a gout of flame and then banks back into 
position, the manuver having pulled him over to the right slightly.

Portock looks over at the apprentices finishing up preparing the supplies 
and shrugs, "Nothing of physical labor, but you could sure keep me company 
while we wait." With that he smiles and leans back agains a rather large 
bolder near the entrance to the infirmary.

Asrai nods sharply, then turns on her heal to return to her lifemate's 
side. Opening the firestone sack next to the Blue she begins to 
methodically feed the eager Blue. Loud sounds of stone crushing can be 
heard as he concentrates on the task.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Flashes of red-gold flame flicker through a 
large sheet of Thread, cutting a swath through the veritable curtain of 
spores. Laerth is quite near to a pair of patches that have escaped the 
assault.

Emlyn goes to her agitated dragon and calms her with a single look. She 
offers her green the flame-producing stone. Pleiath accepts it and chews 
methodically, her powerful jaws flexing under supple hide.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From her gold Herath, Kindre clears her 
goggles in time to catch the green disappearing above. Recovering 
quickly, it would seem, from their previous encounter, the pair keep a 
steady pace. Several hisses of a flamethrower afront them cause Herath to 
bugle her worry, while Kindre scans the scarlet-gold bursts of flame 
above.

Cygnith swallows carefully, sending the pulverized mass to his second 
stomach before accepting more.

Emlyn is concentrating and watching her dragon as she feeds stone. When 
Pleiath signals she's had enough, Emlyn checks the extra sacks secured to 
the dragon's straps. All seems to be in order, so she prepares to mount.

Kylee nods. "Be glad to." She finds her own waiting spot not to far away 
and settles her self comfortably nearby.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith looks ahead as Laerth banks, right, 
and in Laerth's wake lies a clump of drifting silvery strands... without 
hesitation Sinith let's forth a tight and accurate column of flame, 
rendering the threat to harmless black dust with minimal excess of fire.

Emlyn uses Pleiath's forelimb as a step and seats herself between the 
green's neckridges.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Nicoth likes the poses for the 
Thread. He warbles a salute to Lysseth's and Dulath's riders.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth pushes against the difficult wind, pale 
blue wings thrusting forward as he flies in formation near the Phantom 
wing as it rips into the leading edge north of Laerth and Thunderbolt. 
Spouts of flame appear and disappear in dangerous chaos, ash dusting all 
the riders nearby.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth is forced to immediately bank again in 
the opposite directly and makes short work of one patch, and plows ahead 
to get the other. However, he manages to get only a piece of it and his 
rider curses, the remainder falling to a wingmate to clean up.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Tzornth takes the opportunity to be that 
wingmate for Laerth, sweeping the skies before him clean with his flame.

Portock smiles, "So, how long have you been at Benden? I just got back 
from a extended stay at the hall just yesterday morning."

Kerlyn seems unable to keep her mouth shut, and launches into speech 
again, now in the process of re-checking her dragon's straps. Once she's 
finished his, she moves through the wing, taking a final visual inspection 
of 'her' wing. "You've worked hard since you all impressed, and if you 
weren't ready for this, you wouldn't be flying. You may have noticed that 
those weyrlings who -weren't- deemed ready are still helping the ground 
crews. You can be proud of the training you've had, and you're ready to 
start repaying the holds for the tithe's you've been eating for the last 
turn." She continues her little pep talk, ending up back beside her own 
dragon and mounting up.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Buffeted about in the backdrafts caused by 
dragon wings, a sizeable tangle escapes a Dawnslight blue to come within 
the range of Tzornth.

Kerlyn gives Sorath an affectionate pat as he offers her a sturdy forelimb 
to assist her as she mounts.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Laerth OOCly seconds that and then 
drops back IC .. << Watch the crosswinds! We're letting too much get 
through. Dawnslight, move forward a bit, and Skyfire close it up a 
little. >>

Asrai sees that Cygnith has had enough and goes through the same routine 
of securing the extra sacks. Then with a swipe at her forhead, Asrai 
secures her helmet and gloves. With two steps and a leap she settles 
behind Cygnith's metallic looking neckridges.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Thanks, Tzornth, it 
was a stretch for me. >>

Asrai makes her way up onto Cygnith's back with the aid of an offered 
foreleg and a strong grip on the riding straps, settling between his 
silvery neckridges.

Skies Above Valley Hold> With deadly speed, Tzornth snaps his head 
around to the new patch, charring it out of existence, before he rumbles 
back graciously to Laerth across the air between them.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth trumpets brassily as he whips his 
sinuous, agile neck to one side to spout a controlled, tight funnel of 
killing flame over a wash of silvery, streaked Thread falling earth-wards. 
It is reduced to ash in seconds, and R'val pumps his arms triumphantly to 
his wingmates.

On Pleiath, Emlyn can't help it and grins at Kerlyn's pep talk. She puts 
her goggles down over her eyes and wriggles her fingers in her gauntlets.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh dives, Kiat's shout of aquiescence 
torn away in the rough winds like Prometh's flame is blunted short of the 
hissing, spiralling spores that twist through the air to the verdant 
greenery below. Fortunately, an agile blue and his brave rider sear the 
few threads that escape Prometh's blast.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Tzornth broadcasts a you're-welcome 
to the younger bronze, sounding almost for a moment like his more 
restrained rider.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From atop Laerth, P'tran pauses a moment to 
toss another 'stone into his dragon's mouth, taking Laerth out of the 
formation for a moment to assess the Fall and their position.

Skies Above Valley Hold> A loosely-packed tangle of Threads that had 
fallen past the reach of the higher-level dragons is suddenly bourne back 
upwards by a thermal, approaching Prometh from a dangerous angle.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << My rider will want 
to bring in the weyrlings for support sooner if the winds keep up this 
way. How is everyone on firestone? >>

Kylee hmms. "About three hours myself."

Dragon> Vidarth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Fine, so far, 
Laerth. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth quickly tosses more 'stone into 
Meroth's open mouth as the blue falls back to slip into a large gap along 
Skyfire's right flank near the back.

Dragon> Benden Weyrlings sense that Sorath gives a quiet, steady 
rumble << Do not let excitement cloud your judgements- trust to 
your training, and remember it is important to remain as calm and clear-
headed as possible. >> He, like his rider, can always be counted on 
for lots of last minute advice.

Up between Cygnith's neckridges, Asrai gives the all go signal to Kerlyn 
as she settles in, pulling down her goggles to wait the weyrling's turn to 
prove themselves.

Dragon> Prometh bespoke Threadfall Comm with << I am half .... 
Look out! Here it comes! >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth swings his head back for more 'stone. 
A crosswind blows a silvery clump of Thread in front of him before he is 
ready to flame. He winks Between briefly, flaming the errant clump after 
he winks back in.

Dragon> Meroth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << We need more 
firestone soon. (OOC sorry Laerth. :) >>

Kylee smiles at Portock. "Are you posted to this area or just the weyr?"

Pleiath turns her head to look toward Alyssa and Kassima. The little green 
is excited and watching Sorath mostly, but she spares a moment to warble 
toward the dragonhealer before she's once again got her mind on the wing.

Alyssa pulls her feet up onto the boulder before her and wraps her long 
legs around her knees, resting her chin on her knee.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Herath banks to the right and a bit out of 
formation to avoid the ebony-slate twists of burnt Thread that threatened 
to fall upon them. Circling her shoulder, Kindre grasps the wand tighter 
and manages to char a few slivers that the wind forced below at a rapid 
pace. At another gold's prompting trumpet, the pair slips baack into line 
with the Wing.

Seated easily on her dragon, Kerlyn gives Alyssa a taut smile and wave, 
catching sight of the other bluerider as she looks around the bowl.

Portock chuckles, "You picked a time of excitment to come." He looks up 
in the air for no good reason, "This weyr, but I head to the minor holds 
if need be and I try to get to the hall to help lecture when I can."

Up between Cygnith's neckridges, Asrai is different now that she sits 
upon Cygnith. All of her usual clumsiness and uncertainty seems to melt 
away.

On Pleiath, Emlyn salutes Kerlyn to signal she, too, is ready. Down the 
line of weyrlings, one youthful figure after another indicate their 
readiness.

Alyssa lifts a hand to wave at Kerlyn and Pleiath too, adding a brief 
smile before resuming her previous pose and expression.

Mounted on her lifemate, Kerlyn pulls her gloves onto her hands, wriggling 
her fingers to get them sufficiently adjusted. She acknowledges the ready 
signals she receives.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Dropping into an unexpected air-pocket, a 
twisting mass of silver filaments drops nearly straight down, very close 
to Sinith.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh cups the wind with his wings, 
breaking his manueuver and nearly spinning downward in an uncontrolled 
fall. Flame gouts outward, though, and the writhing mass of thread 
flickers into ash. Prometh roars, then blinks *between*.

Dragon> Sorath bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << It will not be 
long now. We will form up over the Star Stones. >>

Portock looks over to Alyssa and grins seeing his friend trying to relax 
on that boulder.

Sorath takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Dragon> Herath bespoke Threadfall Comm with << We are also fine 
with our *flamethrower*...we've plenty of *fuel*... >>

S'ner, mounted on Beroth, gives a sober salute. That run in he had with 
the paint has put a basket over his heroics.

Kassima can't help but smile as she listens to Pleiath, though she's still 
as uncharacteristically sober as she is during every 'Fall in which she 
cannot participate. "They look very young," she murmurs under her breath 
to Alyssa, while pasting on a smile and half-waving, half-saluting to the 
Weyrlings.

Kylee grins in amusement. "I didn't choose the time myself. T'ren thought 
I might want to see what it's like around a weyr just before Fall." She 
shrugs. "And never having been here, I was curious."

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith reacts almost instantaneously, letting 
forth a burst of flame in a line, immolating the cloud of thread into 
nothingness from which it came.

Cygnith's leg muscles bunch before he springs into the air.

Pleiath takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry 
her aloft.

Cygnith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth heads back into formation and 
immediately flames thread to ash as he returns, his rider forced to toss 
another 'stone into the bronze's mouth.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh returns to the fall, well above and 
behind his former position. Kiat waves his arm, indicating that he is 
well.

Above, Pleiath ranges herself out near the far edge of the formation.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << I am beginning to 
run low on 'stone myself. I will have the weyrlings prepare to 
arrive ... >>

Portock nods with a laugh, "Well I hope it is as exciting as you thought 
it would be, although unless your being told to do something you just 
basically sit back and watch everyone ready everything."

Above, Cygnith slips into his normal position, just to the right of the 
'point'.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << The Weyrlings Wing 
should prepare for flight! We will be needing you very shortly. >>

Dragon> Prometh bespoke Threadfall Comm with << My rider wishes 
for more support, Laerth. His eyes see that we are not enough to cover 
this area as it should. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren patpats 
Sinith's neck proudly and feeds him more of his favorite rock--not. One 
day he'll have to figure out how to flavor it for his lifemate, so it 
doesn't taste so chalky.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Three seperate strands of Thread are whipped 
together by the wind to form a thicker cord, almost as though they'd been 
braided together. The result falls swiftly within the range of Meroth.

Dragon> Sorath bespoke Threadfall Comm with << We are ready when 
you need us, Laerth. >> he sends a quick image of the weyrlings, in 
the sky over the star stones << We await your need. >>

Above, On Pleiath, Emlyn turns to look back up the formation toward the 
lead dragon. There is nobody off to the other side of her.

Alyssa watches the weyrlings rise and looks down, letting her feet slide 
off the boulder to the ground as she stands. "They *are* young," she 
replies softly, sadly.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From atop Laerth, P'tran cranes his neck over 
towards Skyfire after his dragon warbles concernedly and nods to K'tyn 
and Prometh.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth's rider turns his attention from the 
plight of Skyfire's wingleader and back to the business at hand. He 
brushes black char from his goggles as Nicoth flames a swiftly falling 
patch just above and before them.

Kylee nods. "I noticed that." Her head tilts a bit and she looks over at 
the other person wondering at her sad tone.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Make that NOW for 
the Weyrlings. We need more support. Supply the riders first, though. That 
is your priority. Come! >>

Dragon> Nicoth bespoke Threadfall Comm with <<  I have eaten 
nearly all the stone my rider brought. >>

Dragon> Sorath bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << You will get 
your visualization from me for your initial jump. After that, you will use 
your own experience. We go -now-! >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Astride his lifemate, T'fian is yelling at the 
greenrider in Skyfire's formation behind him, gesturing to the left, but 
the wind rips the sound away from him. Then he all but vanishes as Meroth 
banks sharply to the right, flame spurting from his mouth. Three twisting 
silvery strands are charred to ash. As Meroth right himself and returns 
back to formation, T'fian has a comic look of surprise on his face.

Above, Seated easily on her dragon, Kerlyn gives the signal for the jump 
between.

Above, Sorath disappears into Between.

Above, Pleiath disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sorath emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

"Hard to believe that some of the elder 'Lings are as old as I," Kassi 
observes. "But then..." she chuckles, "when we first faced Thread, we 
were very young, too. They have to fly sometime. 'Tis what they were born 
for, and all that they've trained for."

Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth angles himself upwards, jetting a 
violently red gout of flame upwards to sear a half a clump of Thread which 
the bronze above him missed. Harmless ash, it tumbles earthwards. R'val 
scowls as his dragon runs out of 'stone, and flies him towards a weyrling. 
From aside the blue, the weyrling tosses a sack of thread, which the 
bluerider catches neatly, wasting no time in refuelling Vidarth.

Above, Cygnith disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath bursts from between in perfect 
formation, far out on the right side of a loose V.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Skies Above Valley Hold> Flittering in the sky directly above a 
Thunderbolt brown is the deadly menace of Thread. Before he can react, it 
is split into two silvery clumps by an ill-favoring thermal. Can Herath, 
the dragon closest to both, react quickly enough to catch them?

Dragon> Benden Weyrlings sense that Sinith murmurs in a distracted 
voice <<Would one of you be so kind as to toss my rider a sack?>>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth bugles as Northern Lights appears in 
the skys.

Portock looks at Kylee and see's her gaze go over to Alyssa and smiles but 
also notices the sad look on her face. "must be being grounded" he thinks 
as he gaze moves over to the infirmary to check things over there.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From atop Nicoth, T'lar signals for more stone 
even as the backwash of Nicoth's latest flaming streams around him.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith trumpets in encouragement to the 
Weyrlings and their Lifemates, a new beginning in the cycle of Weyr life.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith slips neatly into position, just to 
the right of the 'point' in the weyrling wing's formation. Being nearest 
to Sinith, Asrai takes up an extra sack tossing it deftly...despite her 
small size.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Herath continues to beat steadily behind the 
others in the Wing while Kindre divides her attention between the skies 
above filling with Weyrlings, and the skies ahead for more clumps. The 
arrival of two surprise both, it seems, as Kindre jerks the 'thrower into 
action. One clump is all but a black memory, the second nearly so, though 
the help of a fellow goldrider finishes the job.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth roars loudly suddenly at the thread 
falling towards Thunderbolt and makes an admirable attempt to catch at 
least one of them. He gets just a piece of one as it tumbles down, half-
searing it, and ducks between to avoid the second, as he cannot adjust in 
time to flame it.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Atop Meroth, T'fian pumps his fist in the air 
as the weyrlings appear from Between, signaling his need for more 'stone.
Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh turns his head, eagerly crunching more 
firestone. The bag, now empty, flaps annoyingly in the wind until Kiat 
tucks it beneath his Bronze's straps. He waves to Cygnith's rider, urging 
Prometh lower. Prometh bugles brassily, irritated at the delay.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Seated easily on her dragon, Kerlyn takes the 
few seconds necessary for a quick headcount of 'her' weyrling wing, others 
of the weyrlingstaff doing hte same with their own small groups, then 
Sorath speeds forward, near to T'lar, then fired off a sack with efficient 
aim.

"I know, Kassima," Alyssa sighs. "And I know there's very little chance 
all of them will come back unscathed. But...I expected to be there to 
watch them. I feel so ...so...sharding *helpless*."

Kylee jumps up and paces restlessly. "You're sure there's nothing I can 
help with." She pauses in front of Portock and asks quietly. "What happens 
after Threadfall? Besides the ground crews going out?"

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath digs her wingtip low and darts in a 
tight circle toward Nicoth. She pulls up against her forward momentum, and 
Emlyn tosses the sack right at the height of her stall. It sails in a neat 
arc.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From atop Laerth, P'tran turns towards the 
Weyrlings as soon as he and his dragon pop back from between. Laerth gives 
a short rumble towards them and his rider signals for 'stone.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith swoops and angles so that T'ren can 
easily catch the bag of firestone one-armed. T'ren tosses Asrai a salute 
as Sinith accelerates to rejoin his wing.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth banks slightly to aid his rider's catch 
of the firestone sack. After securing it, T'lar signals his thanks.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Weyrlings, after 
supplying 'stone, form up around Skyfire and plug any holes in the 
formation that you see. Keep alert. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Like the snow that falls about Benden Weyr in 
wintertime, the most lethal enemy of dragonkind shows no mercy. Falling 
just above and ahead of Meroth is a nasty looking clump of the tangled 
silver harbringer of death.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith uses his agility to turn on a wingtip 
towards Prometh, another bag goes sailing through the wing. Sionelle's 
teaching pay off as the sack hits its mark..perhaps a little too hard in 
the excitement?

Dragon> Meroth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << I need more 
firestone! Glarth, up! >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> From atop Nicoth, T'lar manages to catch the 
second sack and immediately begins feeding the firestone to the bronze.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Tzornth and his rider have not yet called for 
more 'stone, as they continue to apply Tzornth's spewing flame in short, 
sharp bursts. F'hlan dips once on his dragon's back, ducking out of the 
way of flecks of searing char, attuned to his bronze's slightest 
movements.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sorath dives down, out of the way of a green 
headed for a clump of thread. His rider sends another sack of stone 
towards Meroth, before turning towards Skyfire, and the forling up 
weyrlings.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith chews the firerock quickly and 
efficiently, with none of his customary and amusing criticism of its 
flavor.

Portock slides off the rock, "Hopefully nothing but good food, drink and 
relaxation. Unfortunatly it never works out that way. Riders get scathed 
and so do dragons and they must be tended to. Until the fall is over, 
there is nothing we can really do. " He looks over at the table and sees 
an apprentice rolling strips of cloth in to bundles for bandages. "If you 
really want you could help role bandages, but you definatly don't have 
to."

Kassima nods her agreement, exhaling a long sigh. "Helpless, superfluous, 
in the way, unnecessary, inconsequential... aye, Lys, I know the whole 
litany. The important thing to remember is that we're only *truly* that 
way if'n we surrender to the feeling and let it make us what we fear that 
we already are. Does that make any sense?" Reaching up a hand, she pushes 
her quite overlong bangs back out of her eyes, plucking a water lily from 
her hair and shredding a petal absently.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath slips in the wind to allow her rider 
to toss her other sack, then folds her wings and dives down to where 
Sorath is forming the detachment of Northern Lights.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth chews with all due haste, and rejoins 
his formation as properly and quickly as he can, in time to angle his 
muzzle upwards and sear a rapidly descending clump of the deadly silver 
rain.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth drives upwards against the rough winds, 
yellow-orange flame ripping into the a large clump. But suddenly, the 
flame stops in a quickly-dissipated puff of smoke, leaving much of the 
clump on a collision course with the small blue. Simultaneously, Meroth 
begins to bank and blinks Between. The clump passes through empty air 
towards the green that was behind Meroth.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Seated upon Prometh, K'tyn catches the sack, 
oofing as he looses what little breath he has. Not one to worry about 
that, however, K'tyn pulls the ties of the sack through the roundels and 
waves to Asrai and Cygnith as he rises to his former position, little 
blasts of flame, like hiccups, punctuating his ascent.

Skies Above Valley Hold> If one could take the time to leisurely 
observe this ancient terror of Pern, one might see that the menace is 
without care as it falls from the heavens down to Pern's skies. But there 
is no such leisure; one only has time to see that a very large clump is 
descending just behind Laerth.

Dragon> Sorath bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << We support 
Skyfire>> The large blue reiterates << You will listen to 
Prometh if he or his rider calls for you. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth drops suddenly out of formation, 
banking hard to the east. A solitary sheet of silvery death hisses softly 
through the air unimpeded. A quick, economical gout of flame turns this 
falling menance into black char.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Beroth, the speedy blue who looks to S'ner, 
forms up one dragon nearer the lead than Pleiath.

Alyssa smiles briefly and takes Kassima's hand, squeezing it once. "Of 
course it does. I am just too maternal where those winged creatures go, 
that's all. I, um...think I'll go check the numbweed. Pardon me."

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth senses his rider's gesture for 'stone 
was not seen and drops down slightly so that the weyrlings can see his 
rider's gesture. Before he can receive it, however, Laerth is forced to 
backwing furiously for a moment to get under some thread coming at them 
and flames through it, leaving just a few live strands around the edges 
that *just* miss hitting the bronze's wingtips.

Kylee nods eagerly at the thought of getting anything remotely connected 
to cloth between her hands. "I'd be glad to." She strides quickly over, 
smiles and nods in greeting to the apprentice and begins rolling the 
cloth lengths into small rolls seeming soothed by the activity.

Kassima smiles at Lys. "Aye, and why shouldn't you be?" she asks. "Most 
of them adore you. You're Healer and caretaker to them, companion to all, 
and--" A sudden impish smile transforms her expression to pure gamin, "The 
rider of the blue that's caught half of the greens here. A'course, Lys, 
a'course."

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << I am nearly out 
of 'stone! I need a weyrling to deliver some ... >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Aided and abetted by the fickle winds, two 
smaller patches crash into each other and join into one truly sizeable 
snarl of Threads. Spineth has the dubious priveledge of being the dragon 
close enough to destroy this result.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sorath belches forth a spew of flame in the 
direction of a half-charred cluster the wind threw in his path.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith slips back into his position once his 
extra sacks are delivered. His many faceted eyes whirling quickly with 
flashes of red as he awaits Prometh's orders. Once Laerth recovers another 
Weyrling quickly tosses a full sack to the Weyrleader.

Alyssa pauses and looks over her shoulder at Kassima, then, changing her 
tack, moves quickly to the greenrider and embraces her warmly. "I do love 
you, Kassima. Thank you for being my friend."

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth appears from Between, still banking 
hard to the right. He slips around in a complete circle, just missing 
another clump passes to the right of the small blue's uppermost wing. Then 
a strong gust of wind pushes the blue nearly all the way over and well out 
of formation. As the blue rights himself, his rider is shaking his head 
and they quickly move up to the Phantom wing since a weyrling's brown has 
filled the gap in Skyfire that Meroth created.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From atop Laerth, P'tran catches the sack 
tossed to him almost at the same time his dragon calls for more and nods 
in acknowledgement, immediately tossing one into his bronze's waiting 
mouth.

Dragon> Sorath bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << You do not need 
a special order to char flame in your area-- burn what you can, remaining 
within your formation as you were taught. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> On Pleiath, Emlyn is trying very hard not to 
be distracted by the nearness of the threads, nor by the way they writhe, 
nor by the stench of the ash.

Dragon> Prometh bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Cygnith! Pleiath! 
Be wary of the winds! They are not...easy! Look all about..this thread 
falls oddly. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth's wings pump strongly as the great 
bronze regains altitude. Seeing the untouched pieces falling past Laerth, 
he puts on a burst of speed and flames them before they can fall to 
ground.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Tzornth roars out at last, 
<< 'Stone for me and F'hlan! >>

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << The formation is 
firming up, good work. Thanks, Nicoth. Yes, watch the winds, they can 
shift unpredictably. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Almost inaudible over the cries of warning 
and shrieks of pain from rider and dragon alike is the hissing of the 
writhing mass of Threads that rapidly falls towards Spineth.

Dragon> Benden Weyrlings sense that Sorath interjects his steady solid 
bits of advice when he can, on his rider's orders. << Remember to 
look all around, above and beside as well as in front-- the thread could 
be blown in any direction. >>

Kassima returns the hug with as much warmth as it is given, and then 
some. "Dearest friend," she murmurs, "there's nay thanks needed for what's 
*my* priveledge, honor, and pleasure, hmmm?"

Skies Above Valley Hold> Beroth responds to a silent call and shears 
his wind to deliver stone to Tzornth. S'ner hurls the sack in a flat arc 
toward F'hlan.

Dragon> Prometh bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Cygnith! Pleiath! 
SPineth's rider does not see! Get that patch of *thread* >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith banks slighty to compensate for a 
sudden wind, just as Prometh's words reach him. His smaller more compact 
Blue body slices easily through the air to regain his formation. His head 
swings back and forth, ready to flame at any moment should he be needed. 
Hearing F'hlan's call, Asrai motions to one of the weyrlings holding 
extra sacks to see to his need at once. Cygnith watches for thread as her 
attention is distracted.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Gracefully astride Herath, Kindre shifts the 
wand from left to right, always at the ready as the winds cause the 
Threads to dance around even the most experienced of dragonpairs. While 
the gold's crimson dragon eyes nearly match the hue of the flames above, 
silver-blue human eyes try to guage when and if another clump will come 
within reach.

Dragon> Meroth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << I need more 'stone! 
We could not get the 'stone Sorath's rider threw to us. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan twists his lean body 
about, grunts as the sack smacks against him, then has Tzornth trumpet 
back their thanks to the weyrling as he reloads.

Nodding, Alyssa steps back from the greenrider and brushes her hand across 
her eyes, then, as earlier said, heads for the dragonhealer supplies to 
check, unnecessarily, what's been laid out.

Skies Above Valley Hold> No less than *four* small patches target a 
single Aerie bronze at once; while he manages to deal with two with 
admirable speed and precision, the second pair are coming too close, too 
fast. His bugle serves as a warning to Laerth, the dragon left to deal 
with the remainder as he winks *between*.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath is buffeted upward, toward the clump 
passing out of Spineth's reach. The wind disperses the writhing mass, and 
the small green refrains from trying to sear it all. Her belch of flame 
is economical and effective, leaving behind a small cloud of hot ash.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith trumpets angrily, burgundy eyes 
whirling to red, as a gigantic amorophorous patch falls and splits into 
four, drifting unevenly in the crosswinds toward Thunderbolt.

Dragon> Meroth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Good flame, 
Pleiath. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth rises back into position, careful not 
to get in the way of his wingmates. His flame joins that of Prometh's to 
sear a particularly large mass of Thread.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth roars a warning to Spineth in case he 
does not see the thread heading towards him, but immediate spears his 
neck straight ahead just in time to spew a gout of flame at the pair of 
thread. One patch is flamed completely, the other only partly, and he has 
to bank sharply to avoid being hit, again escaping injury by the narrowest 
of margins, his rider not looking at all happy with that performance.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh hovers it seems, fighting the rough 
winds that twist about his body like rough ribbons. Diving gracefully, he 
sears a seemingly solid patch of thread from the skies.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Laerth's mental voice is mixed with 
curses from his rider. << I missed some! >>

Dragon> Nicoth bespoke Threadfall Comm with <<  I cannot reach. 
I am too far behind. >>

Having no such work of her own to do, Kassi once more unrolls the scroll 
that Kiat gave her to study it. "I could almost wish that we had 
Candidates back again," she remarks, out of the blue. "'Twas enjoyable, 
last time, to have them aid me in this task."

Skies Above Valley Hold> An unanticipated gust of wind blows a 
Thunderbolt green off-course, at the same time driving a large patch of 
Thread right past the space she just occupied. The green's scream of 
outrage sounds through the sky just as the errant tangle comes within 
flame-reach of Prometh.

Dragon> Cygnith bespoke Threadfall Comm with << I have it! >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Dashing forward, well out of formation, to 
reach some thread blown by the wind, a young brown weyrling's judgement 
fails him and he blinks between back to the weyr with the injured help of 
a lightly scored wingtip.

Kylee keeps working on those bandages with singleminded attention, 
frowningly absorbed in the task.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith banks left sharply as the mass of 
thread is still in three clumps strong after Laerth's might flaming, and 
two fall at him parallel... T'ren urges Sinith to the column on the left 
and with a blast of fire, the clouds is a pyre... A Sudden Wind Shear! The 
right clump of thread blows into Sinith and his rider from the blind side. 
With a draconic scream, Sinith winks between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> On Pleiath, Emlyn regains her place in the 
Northern Lights formation, still all the way out on the right of the loose 
V backing up Skyfire.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Skies Above Valley Hold> Two truly titanic Thread-tangles travel 
towards Thunderbolt, traitorous thermals twisting them terrifyingly... 
transporting them towards their targeted trajectories. Blasts of 
dragonfire punch seriously sizeable holes in the mammoth masses, but 
another crosswind blows what remains out of range and towards Cygnith.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sorath's wings beat steadily, trying to 
compensate for the buffeting of the unruly winds. His flaming breath 
leaves a trail of hot ash behind as he does his duty by the clusters of 
thread passign within his range. Swivelling his head around, he receives 
fresh stone from his rider.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh turns his head with an almost arrogant 
slowness, flame erupting from his mouth like water from a hose. Within a 
mere moment, the sheet of thread dissolves into flickering ash, the bronze 
and his rider ducking *between* and back with a triumphant bellow.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth looks nowhere near as graceful in 
flight as he normally does, the winds buffet his small body and make 
flying straight difficult, despite his strength. Just as his rider turns 
and sees an overexuberant brownrider break off the weyrlings' formation 
and get a wingtip score as a result, the blue next to him is suddenly 
gone. T'fian looks back, seeming to feel the gap in Phantom's wing, and a 
jet of flame makes quick work of the thread that occupies the space where 
the other blue once was.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith's sharp eyes catch the thread that 
drifts past Learth. He surges upawards, Asrai laying flat against his star 
speckled back as he belches forth thread searing flame, neatly catching 
all that was out of the larger Bronze's reach. He then quickly slips back 
into formation.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth roars defiance, lithe body surging 
upwards in formation to sear a tangled, massive clump of Thread that 
nearly impales the dragon. He sears only half of it and bellows in 
frustration.

Dragon> Vidarth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Beware below, I 
could not stop that Thread! >>

Farther along the edge of the bowl, Alyssa fusses a bit with the 
dragonhealing material, offering a shy, small, and distracted smile to 
Kylee before heading back restlessly to Kassima.

Skies Above Valley Hold> A medium-sized mass of silver Thread strands 
falls slowly towards Tzornth, wafted about by the winds to make its 
precise path unpredictable.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Good work, 
Weyrlings ... Cygnith, watch it! Another is headed at you! >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith winks back from Between, unharmed! Of 
course, T'ren's seen better days, but he's not a dragon so doesn't count.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith gets back into formation just in time 
to meet the new clump head on. In a fan of fire, the compact Blue manages 
to get all the thread, the second clum being reached by a sharp bank 
sideways.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Sinith, are you or 
your rider injured? >>

Dragon> Sinith bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << Clump heading 
your way! Watch for wind shear, don't let it get close! >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> The weyrling's formation wavers slightly, the 
inexperienced riders' training only going so far in the face of their 
first real encounter with Thread. Hard work shows, though, and for the 
most part, the errors made are minor, as are most of the scorings.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Sinith lets out a rumblechuckle 
<<My SeaCraftin' rider says it's only a flesh wound. He's had 
worse.>>

Kylee looks up briefly from her task and smiles in return. She drops her 
eyes back to the job.

Portock grins as he passes alyssa on his way over to check on what Kylee 
is doing, "Don't worry you'll have your baby soon enough and will be back 
up flying again."

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth lets loose with a sustained burst of 
fire as he plows through a curtain of silver. T'lar lays flat on his back 
in an attempt to avoid the hot ash.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Tzornth tracks the tangle falling towards 
him -- and almost _too_ late, incinerates it into oblivion.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth's blast of flame breaks up the 
remaining bit of the clump, but a strong gust of wind reforms it in front 
of Pleiath. The little green's eyes are as red as her flame. Emlyn must 
duck under the ash, some of which is glowing cinder. The young rider 
flinches as a bit touches her neck.

Alyssa hmms at Portock. "Seven months doesn't seem like soon enough, 
Portock...but thank you."

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << I take it your 
rider is okay to finish the Fall? We need every dragon and rider we can 
get. >>

Portock grins, "Well, you're always welcome on the ground to help me out 
any day."

Kethran comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Skies Above Valley Hold> When dragon meets Thread, only one will 
survive the encounter unscathed; which it will be as a large clump falls 
perilously near Cygnith's shoulder remains to be seen.

Dragon> Sinith bespoke Threadfall Comm with << He'll last the 
fall, but says he wants a stiff shot of whiskey... purely for medicinal 
purposes, of course. >>

Kassima drops the remains of the now much-mutilated flower to the ground, 
pacing back and forth for a bit; restless is not the word for her. "It 
never seems like Fall takes this long when we're up in the air," she 
frets, casting a glance up towards the Star Stones and the empty sky.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren waves his 
right arm to P'tran in salute, indicating he's still fit, if a little 
worse for wear. The SeaCraft makes them tough, they do.

Kethran emerges from the inner caverns amidst a group of drudges bringing 
extra supplies. He steps out of their way, looking around frantically for 
a moment, before gesturing to a spot that is clear of people and dragons 
to unpack them. He turns his gaze to the healers and dragonhealers 
quietly, waiting for any further requests.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Seated easily on her dragon, Kerlyn wipes ash 
off the lenses of her goggles with the back of her hand, shouting a 
warning to S'denil as a clump of thread passes near the young bluerider.

Portock drops his head a bit and makes his way over to Kylee, "Keeping 
you busy at least?" he enquires as Kylee seems to be halfheartedly 
wrapping bandages.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth is whirling around between the various 
wings along the northern flank, rider and dragon bellowing orders to the 
flight under their command, filling in gaps and always seeming to appear 
suddenly where needed, flame bursting all about them.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Tzornth trumpets over gamely to Sinith, 
pleased, before he and F'hlan dive at another clump that almost seems to 
dance its way towards the ground. It's a dance to which F'hlan knows the 
rhythm, however, and Tzornth carries him through it unerringly.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From atop Laerth, P'tran feeds more 'stone to 
his dragon, keeping his dragon tightly in formation, not daring to remove 
him and leave a gap that could not be filled by his wingmates, no matter 
how swift they are.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Beroth has remained in formation throughout 
the whole fall, and his rider has studiously kept the blue in line. When 
a dizzyingly twisting strand is blown his direction, it's clearly too 
large for the young dragon's flame pattern. That bit of the thread that 
doesn't get burned wraps greedily about the young rider's head. More 
attacks the tips of Beroth's wings. The blue thrashes in the sky, his 
voice pure agony.

Skies Above Valley Hold> The winds kick up and toss the falling silvery 
spores into random patterns about the sky. Dragons flame and char as they 
can, but patches get through nonetheless; one missed mass of the 
malevolent Thread fall near Sinith's hindquarters.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Beroth blinks between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth bellows angrily as, while paused to 
stock up on 'stone, a clump of Thread slips past a blue above him and 
hurtles madly towards Vidarth. At the last possible second, they blink 
between!

Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Dragon> Meroth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Prometh, Skyfire's 
drawing too close to Phantom. Move towards the center more and catch the 
thread missed by the other wings. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth roars a warning over to the Weyrlings' 
wing, but not in time before the thread assauts Beroth and his rider.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Prometh rumbles assent, already 
passing the orders on to those who need them.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith observes with incredulity the swiling 
mass and turns on a 1/32nd mark in mid air to immolate the deadly silver 
mass formerly at his backside, the clump falling into slowly drifting 
ash.

Skies Above Valley Hold> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan swears, 
uncharacteristically breaking his usual reserve, as Beroth and his rider 
vanish _between_.

Kylee blinks and looks up at him, still automatically rolling as she does 
so. "Yes. Thank you." She finishes, neatly tucking the edge under and 
grabs another strip beginning the process again with a sigh, "Keeps me 
from thinking too much too."

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth ROARS, the sound belying the flagging 
strength in the small blue's body, his head twisting around for a brief 
moment to look where Beroth once was.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Watch it, for 
Faranth's sake! The winds are picking up! Close up the formation! ... What 
happened over in the Weyrling Wing? >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith Snaps his wings forward to stop the 
momentum that would have carried him directly into the thread. With a 
mighty belch of flame he disinagrates the deadly spores to ash. Asrai, 
however, takes a facefull of hot ash, beating it from her body.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From Vidarth's back, R'val is frowning deeply 
as Vidarth emerges from between. Grimly, he continues to refuel his 
dragon, feeding the blue two large chunks of firestone, before rejoining 
the fray.

Kethran gazes upward, though the dragons are of course far too distant to 
be seen. "Someone close to you riding Fall this time?" he asks Kylee 
absently. This is the hard part. The waiting, after the wings have 
departed, before the injuries begin to arrive.

Dragon> Pleiath bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Beroth! He does 
not return! >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh trumpets, and slowly, surely, Skyfire 
moves southerly fighting the winds and drafts that threated to take them 
out of sync.

Alyssa thanks her brother quietly, noting, "With so many weyrlings on 
their first 'Fall, one might assume we stand a fair chance of greatly 
increased minor injuries. I hope they are all minor..."

Portock smiles as his hands make his way to an unwrapped strip, "It does 
do that." He begins to wrap one, fairly slowly though as his eyes keep 
scanning the sky for any sign of a returning dragon.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Falling like heavy rain, the Thread seeks out 
the luscious growth below to ruthlessly try to devoid Pern of its beauty 
and resources. Fortunately, dragons like Pleiath are in the air, prepared 
to char such strands as those which now descend towards the dragon's 
skyspace.

Dragon> Meroth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Sorath! Beroth 
does not return! Has he returned home? >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> The winds, so innocent and unknowing, toss 
clumps of Thread with nary a care. Slipping just outside the wide-set 
Queens Wing formation to catch a small twisting cluster, Herath and Kindre 
quickly turn the tiny mass into particles of ebony dust to their right. 
Ducking beneath the wisping ash, Herath's trumpet falls just a breath too 
late on her rider's ears -- a pathetic scream can be heard as Kindre's 
wand drops to bounce unusable against Herath's neck. The human part of 
this dragon pair tilts sharply off-center, her right arm clutching the 
left before the Herath takes them *between* on the heels of Beroth.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Laerth rumbles angrily << Watch 
yourselves, all of you. I don't want to lose any more to Thread ... >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Herath disappears into Between

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Vidarth is horrified. << Herath! >> 
Worry singes his tone.

Above, Herath emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith trumpets in warning as a cloud of 
silver abruptly is buffetted by the wind and furl into funnel shapes which 
plummet toward Pleiath and Cygnith, the conical shape far less wind 
resistant.

Kylee frowns a bit in thought and she nods in answer to the question. 
"Yes. Someone I deem a close friend."

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Herath! Are you and 
your rider all right? Are you injured? >>

Dragon> Sorath bespoke Threadfall Comm with << The wind shifted 
unexpectedly. There was nothing we could have done. They are Gone. >> 
The blue's thoughts are anguished, as is his rider's face. << The 
clump is still there. Pleiath, you are closest! >>

Dragon> Meroth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Herath? >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath sees the strand drifting across the 
front of her formation. She must dive down and to her right to get to it. 
When she releases her flame, she does so angrily and uneconomically. None 
of the thread remains behind as the green rises on tired wings to rejoin 
her wing. Emlyn feeds more stone.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth follows Prometh as the wing moves into 
a better position. A green in position on his right moves in too close and 
their wingtips touch. His indignant bugle changes to one of concern as 
Herath's mental and physical scream echo through the air.

"Faranth," Alyssa says as she looks up suddenly, "that's Herath who just 
came back."

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Herath's voice in uncharacteristically 
tense...worried. << Her...shoulder...pain...I am fine. >>

Herath backwings for a landing.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Vidarth croons worriedly.

Skies Above Valley Hold> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan orders his dragon to 
further extend himself, disturbed now, as the Wings begin to take a 
beating from the violent winds. Tzornth's fire begins to sear out with 
more frequency now, almost as if the bronze takes personal affront by the 
loss of the weyrling pair and the injury to the young queen.

Kethran peers upward, and rises back to his feet, his eyes widening. 
"Shells, not Herath..." he murmurs, his voice growing more quiet. He nods 
absently to Kylee, not asking who it might be as his gaze is fixed on 
Herath. "Stand ready," he comments the drudges behind him, who assemble 
into position, unsure what might be required and therefore preparing for 
anything.

Skies Above Valley Hold> As the Fall starts to slacken off, fewer 
tangles threaten the lives of flying dragonpairs; still, it would be most 
unwise to relax vigilence--as the large, nasty snarl of silver strands 
plummeting directly towards Tzornth proves.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From Vidarth's back, R'val watches Herath 
disappear, his brow creased with worry. But he watches only for a brief 
second, as Vidarth swings to the left to intercept a clump heading more 
slowly downward. WIth ease, Vidarth toasts this latest assault, and only 
ash drifts down earthwards.

Kassima closes her eyes as a sudden keen sounds from above, coming from 
the direction of Lysseth's ledge. "One of the Weyrlings," she murmurs, a 
single tear tracking its way down her cheek before Alyssa's words snap her 
attention upwards and back to the land of the living. "Herath! Kindre!"

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Laerth snorts in concern. << If 
your rider is injured, bring her back to the Weyr at once. Have some 
weyrlings take her place in the Queens' Wing. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Wedged within Prometh's neckridges, A burly 
brown and flitter-light blue of Skyfire weave about with unerring 
precision and grace, searing stray clumps of thread. Prometh BUGLES as 
Herath disappears between, and Kiat's face whiten's to chalk pallor. 
"Tighten up! Move it!" He yells to Skyfire.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith sees the funnel of thread heading once 
more towards him. With a controlled burst he sets the frontal attack of 
thread on fire, the flame licking skywards to destroy the rest.

Dragon> Sinith bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << Funneling clouds of 
thread falling your way, Cygnith and Pleiath! >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Spineth surges forward, wasting no energy on 
bellows now, just focusing his anger on the Thread. Fierce flames take 
care of another clump, and the his Rider shouts an order that he echoes 
silently. A slight change in formation, and Dawnslight has adjusted to the 
change in pattern again.

Kethran glances over at Kassima, his eyes darkening slightly with concern, 
but there is no time to ask who was lost, as his attention focusses on the 
present, as he waits for Herath to draw close enough to reveal the 
problem.

Nestled in her familiar spot on Herath, tears stream down Kindre's face, 
her left shoulder not much more than a charred wrinkle of flesh. Herath 
trumpets, her voice not like its usual calm, controlled, haughty one so 
typical and expected of the young queen. Lying, simply, against her 
lifemate's neck, the rider simply sobs and tries to clutch her injury.

Kylee stares transfixed a moment then shakes her head as if to clear it. 
She takes a quick look around to make sure she's well out of the way. Her 
bandage rolling continues but at a much faster pace than before.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Tzornth indeed does _not_ do any such thing as 
relax. With a vehement snarl, the bronze fiercely charges forth towards 
the big clump headed his way. On his back, F'hlan just _narrowly_ avoids 
taking a curl of char to his face -- and one fleck of ash sizzles briefly 
against his riding helmet before winking out.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth slips out of Phantom's formation, his 
rider watching as they quickly close the gap and dive back down to 
Skyfire, falling towards the back, near the Weyrlings' V, gratefully 
slipping in behind the shield created by the larger dragons ahead. Quick, 
precise bursts flame any shimmering, silvery strands near him.

Kethran himself grabs a bucket of water, while a nearby resident stands 
back, awaiting the Healer's determination of what is needed here.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath darts forward at the thread falling 
her direction. It is much too large for her alone, and as she flames, she 
sweeps her muzzle side to side. When the threads overwhelm her, she blinks 
between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath disappears into Between.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Cygnith's voice cuts through sharply 
with command as his fellow Blue does not return, <<Thread still falls 
weyrlings, keep your minds on the matter at hand!>>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath emerges from Between with a blast of 
cold air!

Alyssa strides toward Herath, though not overly close, watching gold and 
weyrwoman with an odd calmness surrounding her concern. The quiver in her 
lips and limbs refects the reaction to the news of the weyrling's fate, 
then, shaking her head firmly, once. She calls soothingly to Herath, "We 
need to help Kindre, Herath. I know you will listen to me...let me 
help..."

Skies Above Valley Hold> The sky around Benden's Wings slowly clears, 
leaving few patches indeed to trouble the weary fighters. Sorath has the 
priveledge--or perhaps it would be better regarded of misfortune--of being 
the dragon towards whom the final tangle falls.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath reappears a length farther back than 
she was before, flaming. The remainder of her half of the thread is now 
ash.

Dragon> Herath bespoke Threadfall Comm with << I have! We're 
home...she can't retu...>> Frustration dots her voice << She is 
sorry. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren curses the 
Red Star with such alacrity as to make a MasterSailor blush, as Sinith 
angles upward with characteristic agility, ensconcing a falling triple-
heliacle thread in a burst of flame.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Between two of her lifemate's neckridges, 
Kerlyn wipes the ash from her goggles once more, her other arm twisted 
tightly with her riding straps, as her dragon ducks and twists as he 
flames. The last strands of thread in the sky around them are quickly 
replaced with dust and ash.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth slips deftly into the center of 
Skyfire's V formation. Flames bursts forth from his mouth to sear the 
deadly tangle behind Prometh. The tips of fire almost reach the bronze 
tail before him.

Kassima's voice explodes into curses as she catches sight of Kindre's 
shoulder, which she bites off with an audible *snap* of her jaw. "Alyssa," 
she asks in a voice that doesn't shake--after all, this isn't the first 
time she's seen dear friends in worse conditions than this, "is there 
anything that I can do to assist?"

Dragon> Sinith bespoke Threadfall Comm with << My rider says he'll 
buy your rider a drink at the Infirmary, after Fall, Herath, since he'll 
be in there undoubtedly. Healers. >>

Dragon> Nicoth bespoke Threadfall Comm with <<  Sorry, Prometh. I 
did miss, didn't I? >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sorath blasts ferociously at the cluster with 
the insolence to fall directly in it's path, the last tendril escaping and 
brushing at his rider's wrist. He flashes *between* swiftly, returning 
almost as soon as he vanished, and rejoining his wing.

Alyssa waits for the gold to calm down, nearing Herath a step further, her 
attitude utterly changed from restless uselessness earlier. "Not yet, 
Kassima," she answers in that soothing, calming tone, then turns back to 
Herath. "Love...lie down so I may get Kindre off of you. Please...it's the 
only way."

Dragon> Prometh bespoke Threadfall Comm with << You will miss, ere 
you try that again, Nicoth! >>

Adonith backwings for a landing.

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Meroth's tone is tinged with amusement. 
<< Be careful, Nicoth. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth gives another roar as he surges up and 
flames a last bit of thread that he sees, missed by a more tired dragon 
and rider pair. His rider then starts to scan the skies for more thread, 
but sees that they are just at the end of the Fall.

Skies Above Valley Hold> On Pleiath, Emlyn twists left and right, 
peering to see up and down the formation.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren removes his 
goggles briefly, wiping them free of ash and scanning the sky as he mops 
the sweat from his brow. Looking downward at the Weyrling Wing, he muses 
thoughtfully at their trial by fire. Ever the way. Duty calls and upward 
he flies into action at the next strand...

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith trues to his word keeps his eyes on the 
task of hand. Being just to the right of Sorath in formation, Cygnith 
easily sears that last tendril of thread.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth slips back into formation, the last of 
his flame lighting up the sky.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Tzornth snaps his head from side to side, 
critically scanning the skies before him, and rumbling his distress at the 
loss of young Beroth. F'hlan's face is set in grim pale lines, now.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << The Fall is about over. 
Weyrlings, swing down and check to make sure nothing got through ... The 
rest of you, keep in formation until we're sure that's the last of it. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath deviates in her path slightly to sear 
a single strand spinning down.

Gracefully astride Herath, Kindre's cheek lies against the soft comfort of 
the dragon's neck. Tears still trickling down her heated cheeks, she 
murmurs, "Fine...'weed and I'll be...okay..." through shut eyes. Herath 
hesitates only a moment before crouching low to the ground. Her snort is 
tart, more typical, though her eyes betray the fear mirrored in her 
heart.

Kethran stands ready to help, as needed, though the Healers likely need no 
assistance. Still, he watches, his hands clenching and unclenching in a 
familiar display of helpless frustration that always afflicts him when 
Fall happens -- the conflicting need to do something to help, and his own 
inability to do anything, battling with one another visibly on his 
features. His work all comes before; once Fall begins, the responsibility 
rests with the riders and the Healers.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh hisses, turning his head for a few 
chunks of firestone. His eyes, a brilliant fiery red glare balefully at 
Nicoth. Almost disdainfully, his turns to sear a mass of thread from the 
sky.

Dragon> Benden Weyrlings sense that Pleiath turns her attention to 
Sorath when Laerth sends his directions.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren salutes 
P'tran to signal that Laerth's message was received, as Sinith holds the 
line.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Between Meroth's neckridges, T'fian watches 
the weyrlings carefully, his face set grimly as he watches the weyrlings 
start their sweep.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Up between Cygnith's neckridges, Asrai pumps 
her fist once in understanding of the Weyrleader's wishes, directing 
Cygnith to follow Sorath's lead.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Riding her lifemate, Kerlyn, usually right 
handed, signals to the weyrlings to change formation for the final sweep 
of the skies. Pleiath's rider is indicated as the formation leader, as 
Sorath banks to one side of the formation-- typical instructor's position.

Kassima nods once, and stands silent nearby in case that there will be a 
time when she can be of help to her friend. She figets a bit, plainly 
anxious for Herath's rider and still sorrowful for the loss of the young 
Weyrling.

Alyssa grasps a hold of Herath's riding straps and with quick ease hauls 
herself atop the gold to help Kindre.

Alyssa bestrides Herath. Looking rather bored as she waits for her to 
settle in, she snorts impatiently.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Atop Spineth, Ursa turns to look over her weary, 
battered wing. Though the skies apprear to be free of thread, she keeps 
them in formation long enough to be absolutely sure. Then a hand signal 
and the dragons break out of formation, each going their way to the post-
fall sweeps. Some flash between, returning to the weyr to attend to 
injuries.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath lifts her voice, normally sweet-toned 
but now hoarse with weariness, calling Northern lights to pivot on her 
position and fly under Thunderbolt and Dawnslight.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << It's looking like 
nothing got through. Good work, all. Once the weyrlings confirm it, we'll 
head home. >>

Between Herath's neckridges, "Kindre," says Alyssa softly as she works the 
weyrwoman's straps, "tell Herath you're all right and we'll get you some 
help...then let's get you off her, all right? Adonith's keeping her 
company. Just relax, love...I have you."

Skies Above Valley Hold> On Pleiath, Emlyn looks back to her left, 
watching the weyrling wing's maneuver.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith keeps his formation, he knows his 
position, be it Sorath or Pleiath in front.

Dragon> Sinith bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << Excellent work, 
Weyrlings. Rumour has it the first round is on the Weyrlingsmasters. >>

Dragon> Cygnith bespoke Threadfall Comm with << My rider seriously 
doubts that. >>

Herath barely flinches with the arrival of Alyssa. Kindre's eyes slit open, 
their silver hue glassy with the pained moisture of her tears. 
"Ber...oth...distracted..." Sighing heavily, the shocked rider slowly lets 
her lids shut as she bespeaks her lifemate. Herath's following rumble 
audibly assures, albeit with great hesitation, her rider's wishes to be 
helped.

Kylee chews her lip anxiously as she watches and waits with the others.

Lysseth backwings for a landing.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sorath's eyes are intent, double-checking the 
weyrling's work while trying not to look like that's exactly what he and 
his rider are doing.

Portock moves next to Herath to help Kindre down.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath trains her sharp eyes on the ground as 
she passes over.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << The weyrlings did 
handle themselves very well, however .. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh waits for the confirmation, his own 
brows furrowed in intent scrutiny.

Dragon> Nicoth bespoke Threadfall Comm with <<  We lost one, but 
only one. >>

Gracefully astride Herath, "Wine..." is the only other discernable phrase 
from the hurt goldrider.

Dragon> Cygnith bespoke Threadfall Comm with << We see nothing on 
this side as well. All clear. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth slips tiredly through the skies, moving 
towards Thunderbolt formation, his rider watching Laerth and the 
Weyrleader now.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << Report, weyrlings ... 
anything get through? >>

Dragon> Benden Weyrlings sense that Sinith ...finishes Laerth's 
statement <<They're weyrlings and not yet allowed.>>

Astride Kindre's gold, Alyssa looks down at Portock as she informs him, 
"Shoulder 'Score...doesn't look too bad. Can you help her if I slide her 
partway to you? She's fairly shocked. Oh! Kassima...wine, please?"

Kethran continues to stand ready, as always. It appears that there are 
enough people to help Kindre down, and more would simply get in the way. 
Kethran steps forward, remaining a few meters back, in case any fetching 
of supplies is needed. Retrieval of supplies he can handle. Fixing of 
people is not something he can contribute to. "I'll get it," he calls to 
Alyssa. "Kassi's stronger than I am."

Lysseth> Herath senses that Lysseth rumbles gently, her mind-tone 
soothing as few have heard it be before. << My rider says that I 
should tell you that the Kind One will take good care of Kindre, and that 
all will be--must be--well. >>

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Threadfall Comm with << If everything is well, 
form up for the return trip home. >>

Portock nods as he reaches his arms up and gets into position, "Yes, just 
slide her down here."

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Cygnith directs his mental voice to 
Laerth, <<The loud one>> An image of a screaming Sionelle <<Would 
stand for nothing less.>>

Dragon> Pleiath bespoke Threadfall Comm with << There are no burrows, 
Laerth. >>

Kassima shakes her head at Keth. "I can't pick up aught heavy anymore," 
she points out quietly. Nodding to Lys, she dashes into the 'Cavern after 
wine and returns half a moment later with two full skins, one marked Red, 
the other White.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Tzornth issues one final rumblesnort, as he 
settles back into his place in the formation, ready to return to the Weyr.

Skies Above Valley Hold> On Pleiath, Emlyn signals for Northern Lights 
to return to support position, this time to pivot on Sorath.

Skies Above Valley Hold> From atop Laerth, P'tran looks around to make 
sure everyone is back in formation, then lifts his arm and lets it drop to 
signal the return home ...

Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Sorath confirms Pleiath's report of 
all clear with a quiet rumble of affirmation. << They handled 
themselves as expected. There is no need to be suprised at their 
performance. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Laerth disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith scans the far horizon and back again, 
assured.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Meroth disappears into Between.

Astride Kindre's gold, Alyssa encircles her arms around Kindre, smiling 
with loving encouragement. "Ready, love? We'll get you to the ground and 
have you numbweeded before you can name Herath's offspring."

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
legs and bugles a greeting to bronze Laerth and his rider, P'tran, 
welcoming them home.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Nicoth disappears into Between.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sorath disappears into Between.

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
legs and bugles a greeting to blue Meroth and his rider, T'fian, welcoming 
them home.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Sinith disappears into Between.

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Heraths voice still retains filters of the 
panic she felt in the skies. << They'd had better...she hurts so...
and is tired...but thinks of...vine? And Boll...and warmth...to keep her 
calm. >>

Skies Above Valley Hold> Tzornth disappears into Between.

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
legs and bugles a greeting to bronze Nicoth and his rider, T'lar, 
welcoming them home.

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
legs and bugles a greeting to blue Sorath and his rider, Kerlyn, welcoming 
them home.

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
legs and bugles a greeting to blue Sinith and his rider, T'ren, welcoming 
them home.

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
legs and bugles a greeting to bronze Tzornth and his rider, F'hlan, 
welcoming them home.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Pleiath disappears into Between.
Skies Above Valley Hold> Cygnith disappears into Between.
Skies Above Valley Hold> Vidarth disappears into Between.
Skies Above Valley Hold> Prometh disappears into Between.

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
legs and bugles a greeting to green Pleiath and her rider, Emlyn, 
welcoming them home.

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
legs and bugles a greeting to blue Cygnith and his rider, Asrai, welcoming 
them home.

Above, Prometh emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Nestled in her familiar spot on Herath, Kindre bobs her head, almost, 
before slipping down.

Kindre gives Herath's neck a loving rub before she slips down with the 
polished ease of familiarity. The gold's eyes seem to burn through Kindre 
until she is certain her lifemate is sure-footed on the ground, then turn 
equally as hot to the surroundings in a quick survey.

Laerth backwings for a landing.

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
legs and bugles a greeting to blue Vidarth and his rider, R'val, welcoming 
them home.

Skies Above Valley Hold> Spineth disappears into Between.

Portock raises his arms and readies to grab Kindre.

Meroth backwings for a landing.

Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind 
legs and bugles a greeting to brown Spineth and his rider, Ursa, welcoming 
them home.

Kethran nods quietly, stepping once again back out of the way to perch 
atop a barrel of numbweed, watching in silence.

Prometh backwings for a landing.

P'tran comes down from Laerth's neck in one smooth motion.

Adonith stands beside Herath, rubbing his smaller head against her 
metallic hide, guarding and placating her.

Sorath backwings for a landing.

Above, Pleiath warbles with mixed triumph and sadness to the hoarse-voiced 
watchdragon.

Vidarth backwings for a landing.

P'tran gives a tired sigh as he pulls of his helmet and loosens his 
dragon's straps a bit.

Sinith backwings for a landing.

R'val slides down from Vidarth's back and lands in a crouch.

Pleiath backwings for a landing.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Tzornth rumbles his pride and his 
pleasure in flying with the dragons of Benden, all at once, unexpectedly 
commenting for once on the excellence of some other dragon besides 
himself. << Benden flies with strength and speed. It is good. >>

Cygnith backwings for a landing.

From Meroth's neck, T'fian sits still on Meroth for a long moment after 
the pale blue carefully backwings to a landing. Finally, he pulls his 
goggles up, racoon eyes looking towards P'tran.

Spineth backwings for a landing.

R'val leaps from Vidarth's back carelessly, looking around him worriedly 
for someone in particular. He spots Kindre, looks relieved, and 
immediately moves towards her, unthinking Healer concern written all over 
his face.

Above, Tzornth arcs off towards his own weyr, as is his and F'hlan's way.

Lysseth> Herath senses that Lysseth's voice is almost a croon, and 
certainly a consoling warble. << Oh, of course they had better. How else, 
my rider asks, is she to--I quote this, here-- >> Her tone takes on the 
vaguely lilting inflection of her lifemate's voice, << Whip Mart's 
sharding brownrider butt on Boll's vine and prove to him for once and for 
all what Benden riders are made of? >>

Sorath lumbers off to one side ofthe bowl, after depositing his rider on 
the bowl floor. He rumbles at her with tired worry.

Above, Tzornth flies towards the south end of the bowl.

Kerlyn dismounts, and gives Sorath an affectionate scritch once her feet 
reach the ground.

From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren unbuckles the straps holding him in.

Lorieth backwings for a landing.

T'fian quickly slides down Meroth's foreleg and jumps to the ground.

Pleiath is grey with ash and exhaustion.

P'tran stretches a bit and tucks his helmet into a pocket, looking around 
the bowl at the injured dragons and riders. He sees Kerlyn and heads over 
to her, commenting, "The Weyrlings flew one. I'm sorry we had to lose 
one."

J'lyn slides down Lorieth's shoulder to her forelimb, then jumps to the 
ground.

Portock takes kindre and lowers her to the cavern floor, motioning for the 
water quickly.

Up between Cygnith's neckridges, Asrai swings her leg over Cygnith's neck, 
removing her goggles and helmet she *leaps* down.

Emlyn slides down Pleiath's shoulder to her forelimb, then jumps to the 
ground.

J'lyn walks south.

Asrai makes her way down from Cygnith's back.

R'val almost grips Kindre by the shoulder till he thinks better of it, 
dark eyes intense as he regards her, "Kindre! Oh shards, are you 
allright?"

Kindres lips quirk into a vague smirk, her eyes slitting open once again 
to find Kassima. "I'm just...tired," she lies as the dragons collect 
around the bowl.

Emlyn just leans against her dragon once she's on the ground again.

From high atop Blue Sinith, T'ren curses the four winds and especially 
windshear... the Harpers would be impressed with his use of simile and 
metaphor.

T'ren carefully slides down Sinith's foreleg and lands firmly on the 
ground.

Alyssa slips down Herath's golden hide. She snorts impatiently as she 
waits for her to land safely on the ground.

Kassima steps closer to Lys and Kindre, holding out the two wine-skins. 
"I brought both kinds... Kin, 'tis White that you favor, 'tis nay? Want 
me to tell you bronzerider jokes while they tend to your arm, as did to 
Kiat?" She's plainly determined to do whatever she can to aid her friend 
through this. "Here, how about this one: how many bronzeriders does it 
take to change a glow?"

T'ren patpats Sinith's nose with his right hand, "Excellent work, you 
overgrown firelizard."

P'tran hardly notices T'ren's "colorful" use of language, having grown 
used to hearing it (and having picked up some interesting new swear words 
from it to boot).

Kerlyn yanks her helmet off, letting it drop to the bowl floor, followed 
by her gloves and jacket. She salutes with painstaking crispness. "As am 
I, Sir, but-- it isn't unusual for a first fall. It could have been 
worse."

Asrai is suprisingly quiet as she turns and caresses her lifemate. 
Mentally coming down from the heightened experience of their first 
threadfall.

T'fian pulls off his helmet and looks towards Herath and Kindre for a 
moment before turning around and surveying the Benden dragons and riders. 
"K'tyn!"

Ursa climbs carefully down with the assistance of Spineth's extended 
forelimb.

Alyssa lands softly at Herath's side and remains out of Portock's way, her 
attention on her injured friend and her glances moving about the bowl 
quickly for signs of serious injury. The dragonhealer trainees are, of 
course, filing through the bowl offering numbweed to ease the pain of 
minor 'scores, quiet and efficient.

Thankfully, R'val clasped Kindre's uninjured shoulder. "Beroth...?" is 
wondered before her favored drink is offered. Drinking long, her droopy 
eyes squint a bit with her smile. "How many..." she wonders to Kassima.

Portock takes pair of scissors and quickly cuts away the material around 
the threadscore near Kindre's shoulder. Once the wound is exposed he 
quickly dips in the bucket of water and generously applies water to the 
wound from the cloth.

P'tran nods somberly to Kerlyn. "I think you and the others did very well 
with them. Things like that happen, unfortunately. From what I saw, I 
think they're all ready for Wings," he adds in a softer voice, not 
intending the Weyrlings to overhear that.

Kethran watches each of the dragons return, nodding quietly to each of 
them, though few eyes turn to meet his own. After scanning once again for 
injuries, he begins directing the drudges to move the supplies back toward 
the inner caverns, a look of relief on his face.

T'ren makes a circle around Sinith, a visual inspection if only for his 
own reassurance, since the great blue beast looks suprisingly fit and not 
dull of shade as often happens after a long fall.

K'tyn slides down Prometh's fiery bronze flank to come to rest on the 
ground. Prometh swings his head around to regard his lifemate gently.

When a dragonhealer stops to check on Pleiath and her, Emlyn smiles and 
shakes her head, sending the woman off to the next pair.

R'val releases Kindre's arm with a sigh of relief, then his face falls, 
"Oh shards. We lost Beroth, didn't we?"

T'ren catches P'tran's comment about the Weyrlings and Wings.

P'tran looks over to K'tyn and calls out to him. "How did Skyfire fare?"

Alyssa mutters to R'val, "Please,... I... you're... to... have... get... 
too."

Ursa tugs off her flight gloves and helmets impatiently, leaving them by 
her weary lifemate before she dashes over to check on the minor injuries 
of her wing.

T'ren mutters to P'tran, "Don't forget... we... spoil that..."

Kassima meets Kindre's eyes squarly, and slowly shakes her head once. 
Quickly after that, she supplies, "Just one--to hold it up and wait for 
the world to revolve around him."

T'fian walks over to P'tran, seconding the Weyrleaders question to the 
Skyfire wingleader.

P'tran smirks at T'ren and then chuckles faintly.

Kindre winces only slightly as Portock goes to work on her scored 
shoulder. Herath takes several steps at the Healer before yielding just 
aside Alyssa. A weak chuckle escapes her lips at Kassima's punchline. 
"Hee...I like that...ow, heey...one..." then drinks again from the skin.

Benden Weyr> P'tran says, "Cute, Kassima :p :)"

Emlyn tugs off her helmet and goggles and simply drops them. Her gauntlets 
follow, and she begins to remove her dragon's straps.

T'ren looks around for the nearest Healer or WineCrafter. Preferably the 
latter.

Asrai's shoulders droop for amoment, then they straighten as she turns. 
Her usually animated face is stone, as if an innocence never to be 
retrieved was lost. She then walks determidly over to the others.

Benden Weyr> Kassima didn't make it up, FL! I'm just reading 'em from the 
list of jokes Tria sent me. ;)

Dragon> Pleiath bespoke Benden dragons with << The ash feels ... 
slimy. I do -not- like it. >>

Kerlyn's tone of voice indicates that she was expecting it to be so, in 
fact. She tries to flag down one of the numbweed bearers in the bowl, 
rolling her right sleeve up a little, while keeping her eyes on P'tran, 
her voice also low. "I'd like a little longer for training, but I've come 
to realize that in my job, we're seldom completely satisfied. Sionelle 
and I have discussed it, and we don't disagree with you, sir."

Portock finishes washing the wound with water and grabs the redwort and 
smothers his hands in it to keep off the effects of the numbweed. Once 
fully coated he takes a generous portion of numbweed and begins to 
generously coat the wound.

Dragon> Vidarth bespoke Benden dragons with << Nothing about Thread 
is good, young Pleiath. >>

Kassima manages a half-hearted grin as she asks the next one. "Why's it 
important for a greenrider to always look her best? D'you know, Kin?"

R'val seems to remember himself and tugs his vest down with some dignity, 
frowning, He mutters to Alyssa, "... help... I... heal... anyone who 
needs..." 

K'tyn checks each member of skyfire, and seems almost shaken to discover 
that there were no injuries, save his own. He turns, jogging over to 
P'tran and T'fian. "Sirs. Save for some ashburn, we are--are all 
uninjured."

Dragon> Lorieth bespoke Benden dragons with << You might want a swim, 
little one... >>

Benden Weyr> Caitria peers. My list?

Benden Weyr> J'lyn says, "Rider jokes, Tria."

P'tran nods at Kerlyn's assessment and looks over to Kindre with concern 
for a moment before looking over towards K'tyn for his response to his 
question.

Dragon> Lysseth bespoke Benden dragons with << Nothing except charring 
it, Vidarth. *That* is very good indeed. >>

T'fian says to Kerlyn, "I'd like to give you more time as well, 
Weyrlingmaster, but ..." he shakes his head and turns to K'tyn, then 
smiles, brightly. "Good work, Wingleader."

Alyssa stays well out of the way of the healers and spends her time 
stroking Herath's muzzle, her expression easing a bit as she realizes 
that, save the horrid fatality, there are no serious injuries. "Ask 
Portock," is her simple answer to R'val.

P'tran nods to K'tyn. "Except for one fatality in the Weyrlings' wing, we 
had light injuries. T'ren and Kindre."

The numbweek beginning to take effect, as well as the several swallows of 
wine, Kindre wonders, "Am I okay?" before returning her eyes to Kassima. 
Running the joke through her head, she half-grins again, "Why?"

P'tran says "At least those are the ones I know about ..."

Kerlyn takes that as a dismissal, and strides off to assess the extent of 
injuries 'her' weyrlings sustained. She pauses, hearing T'fian. "A 
conversation for later, perhaps?" then continues towards Alyssa.

R'val nods sharply to Alyssa, and walks away from her, to Portock's side, 
murmuring, "I'm yours if you need me, old friend, my rusty healer skills 
are at your service."

Dragon> Pleiath bespoke Benden dragons with << I want a swim, and a 
scrub, and then a soak in the hot springs. And then a meal. A fat, 
bleating herdbeast. >>

Asrai's face hardens even more, if possible as she overhears the mention 
of the Weyrling's death.

K'tyn shakes his head, "It was pure luck, sirs. Pure... luck." He seems 
baffled.

Portock finishes up with the numbweed and looks at the wound with a smile 
and then up at R'val.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Vidarth speaks proudly. << You 
deserve it, Pleiath. >>

Alyssa smiles briefly at R'val's words to Portock, murmuring, "Hardly 
rusty..."

Ursa inspects a wingtip, and then a minor scoring. The injured green 
creels like a crying baby, her Rider nearby with his comforting presense 
and words while the dragonhealer spreads the numbweed. She moves to a 
Rider, relieved to find he's afflicted with just an ash-burn, rather than 
a scoring.

Kassima glances towards Portock for the answer to that one, before leaning 
forward on her feet from where she's squatting beside her friend. 
"Because," she explains, chuckling faintly, "plenty of bronzeriders are 
stupid, but none of them are blind." She winks.

T'ren's face clouds over, as he hears of the weyrling fatality, standing 
next to P'tran.

T'fian looks over as R'gan and Phantom approach. "Sir," he says to P'tran. 
"Phantom suffered one bad wing score, but no fatalities."

Portock looks up at R'val, "Don't worry friend, just a minor score, no 
stiches needed. It will leave a nice scar though."

Dragon> Cygnith bespoke Benden dragons with << It is our job to 
flame thread. >>

P'tran nods once at K'tyn and heads off in another direction, checking on 
other injuries and concerns. He finds himsef near Kindre and Kassima and 
heads over to them. "Kindre, you don't look too much the worse for wear.." 
he comments with just a hint of a wry grin.

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Cygnith seems to be as cold as the 
sky his hide emilates.

Portock nods at the Weyrleader's comment, "No, she will live that is for 
sure. Will be back flying in no time."

R'val grins crookedly at Portock, "Good, good."

Kindre laughs, almost fully now that her injury is well-numbed and her 
mind is slowly relinquishing to the effects of the wine. Even Herath seems 
mostly pacified. "Me? No, Sir," she remarks to the Weyrleader.

P'tran turns his head at the sound of T'fian's voice and nods. "Good. I 
was pleasantly surprised at the lack of bad injuries. We lost a weyrling, 
but that happens, much as I hate to admit it."

R'val glances over Kindre-wards and calls out with a smile, "Kindre! You 
doin' allright?"

Emlyn gets her dragon's straps off, finally, the job having taken longer 
do to the shaking of her hands. Once free of her gear, Pleiath trots 
wearily toward the lake.

Pleiath lumbers south.

Asrai walks over to her friend, "Kindre, my apologies. the Weyrling wing 
should not have let that clump reach the Queen's wings. I hope you are 
alright." Again, her tone is as stony as her face, her violet eyes cold.

T'ren mutters to Portock, "I hate... it, but I... scoring to my... 
again...."

T'fian runs a strangely pale hand through his sweat-dampened hair, then 
glances around. At P'tran's words, he nods. "I would have wished otherwise 
as well, but it could have been worse." He says this with as much feeling 
as he possibly can, but as P'tran says 'it does happen' and it's evident 
in his voice.

Kerlyn's voice is tired as she walks up to Alyssa, "Would you know how 
many minor..? I wasn't able to keep track."

Ursa finishes inspecting her wing, and then catches up with P'tran. 
"Dawnslight is in good shape," she reports. "No injuries that will affect 
anyone more than a sevenday."

Kassima starts to tell another bronzerider joke, then shuts her mouth with 
a rueful grin. "Mayhaps I shouldn't continue this method of distraction 
with a bronzerider nearby t'hear the jokes, Kin," she quips, then raises 
one hand to salute the Weyrleader. "One is one too many," she remarks 
quietly, "but 'tis grateful that I for one am that 'twas nay worse, sir."

Emlyn is left standing by her and her dragon's gear. She slowly winds 
Pleiath's straps into a coil that she places on her shoulder, then bends 
to pick up her helmet, goggles, and gauntlets.

P'tran comments to T'fian, "It's a credit to Sionelle and her assistants 
that we didn't have more fatalities." He looks towards Ursa and nods with 
satisfaction at her report. "Dawnslight handled themselves rather well, 
especially being at the front of the formation and bearing the brunt of 
the Fall."

P'tran smirks at Kassima. "You mean like that one about how many it takes 
to change a glow, hmm?"

Sinith spies Kylee and lumbers in her general direction, then nuzzles her 
with his great blue dragonsnout.

Alyssa turns to Kerlyn without stopping in her ministrations to Herath. 
"Vellan told me that there's nothing I need to see to. A few lancings, 
some ash burns...and nine wingtip 'Scores, eight of them on Weyrling 
dragons. I know that comes as no surprise to you. They did well, Kerlyn. 
Well."

"Asrai, dearheart, it wasn't Northern Lights' fault," Kindre notes almost 
sternly. Her crooked smile, though, softens the vaguely harsh words 
intent. "If nothing was supposed to get to the Queens' Wing, we'd not 
carry throwers. I'm sorry you lost a Wingmate..." she says before querying 
the Healer. "Portock? Do I have to do anything now? Or am I like all 
better?" Oh, yeah, gotta love the effect of wine.

T'fian glances over at Alyssa, then walks back to Meroth. "If you will all 
excuse me," he says grimly.

T'fian pulls himself up Meroth's foreleg, grasping the blue's riding 
straps, and settles between his neckridges.

Meroth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Kassima grins back, "Aye, sir, like that. I've a few of 'em that I've 
picked up over the Turns--like, for example, how d'you drown a 
bronzerider?"

Kerlyn nods, and leaves Alyssa to her work, much as she ought to have done 
in the first place.

Ursa smiles, a tight smile, very dry. "Thank you, sir," is all she 
replies. But her pride in the wing is evident in her tone and her 
expression.

T'ren mutters to Portock, "... numbweed... redwort... even... of 
whiskey... pretty... to..."

Kylee sets her last bandage down and scritches Sinith obligingly, a 
relieved smile spreading over her face. "Glad you're back."

P'tran rolls his eyes briefly but gives her a wry grin. "Dare I ask?"

Kindre turns back to Kassima to hear the punchline to this latest funny.

Asrai nods at Kindre's words, not commenting on the fellow weyrling's 
death.

Emlyn drifts nearer Kerlyn. The lower half of her face is grey with ash, 
the upper white from the goggles' protection.

T'ren listens for the latest Kassi joke.

Kassima is only too quick to supply the punch-line: "Why, you put a mirror 
on the bottom of the bathing pool, a'course!"

Portock smiles at Kindre, "Well, no moving your shoulder too much, but I 
don't have to restrain it. Just let me check it in the morning."

P'tran hrms at Kassima and raises an eyebrow, scrutinizing her for a few 
moments. "Just how long do you think you'll be grounded?"

Portock grins at T'ren, "How about some numbweed, let me take a look."

R'val accepts a skin of wine from a passing weyrling and smile sweakly, 
sipping at it with a sigh of relief.

Sinith croons relaxedly at Kylee's scrtiching, then nudges her northward 
toward the riders.

Ursa returns to her lifemate to strip off his straps just in time for the 
great brown to lumber over to the proper spot to belch out the last of the 
'stone ash.

Lorieth lumbers south.

Asrai looks down and bats away the last remnants of ash slime that cling 
to her clothes....the overall look of someone a bit...singed.

"About four more months, give or take a couple of days, sir," Kassi 
answers promptly. "I'm told 'tis hard to predict such things precisely."

P'tran nods to her. "I think I'm going to give you something to do during 
that time."

R'val chuckles, "You flew bravely, Kassi. I hope you didn't give your 
bairn too hard a ride in there." He grins at the greenrider.

Kerlyn finally realizes that in her wandering around the bowl to check on 
weyrlings, she failed to notice Emlyn's proximity. She hunkers down 
against the bowl wall, leaning back against it. "You did a good job," she 
says simply.

"Alrighty," Kindre nods to the Weyrhealer, the tears that stained her 
cheeks mostly dried now. She can't help but grin at Kassima's answer as 
well as P'tran's. "'Lys? Thank you...I could hardly think enough to calm 
her down..."

Emlyn looks over as she finds herself near Asrai, too. She simply nods 
when they make eye contact.

Kylee sighs and drops her hand. "I'd rather not, but if you insist." She 
walks over and quietly stands behind T'ren.

Emlyn nods dumbly at Kerlyn's praise. She squats beside Sorath's rider and 
rests her back against the wall, too.

Kassima's face lights up, though her brow furrows a bit with confusion as 
she peers at R'val for a moment. "Huh?" is her articulate answer, before 
she turns her attention back to the Weyrleader. "T'say that I'd be glad of 
a task, sir, would be like saying that Thread's just a wee bit perilous."

Alyssa scritches Herath, nods to reports brought to her about minor 
'Scores treated, and rests her free hand on Kindre's good shoulder. "Sssh, 
love. It's the least I can do for you two."

R'val chuckles, "Your baby, Kassi, growing in that stomach of yours. I'm 
hoping he or she didn't get too hard a ride."

Asrai returns Emlyn's nod, then turns her cold gaze up at Kerlyn. At close 
inspection it is not so much cold as void of any emotions. She salutes the 
AWLM as she arrives, "Ma'am." She then falls silent.

Ursa watches Spineth until he's done, then she finds herself moving 
towards the part of the bowl where Emlyn, Kerlyn, and Asrai have gathered. 
She takes a spot against the bowl wall on Emlyn's other side, squatting 
there near her wordlessly.

"Ride? Ride when?" R'val's words are plainly confusing the heck out of 
Kassima, to judge by her utterly puzzled expression as she glances briefly 
back at the bluerider.

T'ren turns at the sound of footsteps behind him, then cracks a tired 
smile, "Hey, Weaver. How fare thee?"

R'val slaps his forehead, "Oh, of course! Nevermind Kassi, I clearly 
wasn't paying attention." He grins wryly at her, "Fool that I am. I 
forgot. Ne'rmind." He glances about him again.

Portock takes his scissors and begins to cut away the portion of T'ren's 
tunic around the wound. When it is revealed he grins at the rider, 
"Nothing to major, just a bit of a score, somewhat deep here though."

Kylee quirks a wry smile. "Apparently a bit better than you." She eyes his 
shoulder briefly.

P'tran nods to Kassima. "Good, in that case, I'll want you to meet with 
F'nar and F'hlan on a regular basis so they can teach you a few things 
about being a Wingsecond."

Benden Weyr> Asrai snugs a Kassi, "Yay!!

T'ren hrms and murmurs softly, "Only a flesh wound. I've had worse."

Kylee sighs as Portock cuts into T'ren's tunic wincing at that almost more 
than at the wound subsequently exposed.

Now, Kassi was definitely confused by what R'val was saying--but she's 
definitely dumbstruck by P'tran's words. "Wingsecond?" she gasps, after a 
moment of sitting there with her jaw hanging open, like a poleaxed 
wherry.

Herath whuffles Alyssa while her rider continues to let her somewhat fuzzy 
sights drift between the Weyrleader and her friend. Despite all she's 
recently been through, her eyes manage the closest to their typical wide-
eyed expression. "Kassi! Wingsecond!"

Portock lets his grin fade as he takes a cloth full of cold water and 
begins to wash out the wound.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa would like to take this moment to YEEHAW! for 
Kassima!!

R'val chuckles at that, smiling lopsidedly, "Congrats, Kassi."

K'tyn moves around Prometh's side. "Kassi! Congrats! That's fine news!"

Benden Weyr> S'riv says, "why?"

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Kassima was just promoted to wingsecond."

Benden Weyr> Kindre yeehahyeehahyeehahs too!!!!!!! :) 'Grats 
Kassilass!!! :)

P'tran smirks at Kassima, thinking this must be a first: Kassima 
speechless. "Yes, I'm finding I need a third Wingsecond in Thunderbolt, 
and I think you're the most qualified. I think I can certainly wait until 
you're back in the air again."

Benden Weyr> S'riv laughs, now she can't salute me, 
neenerneenerneeeeeeeeener

Emlyn murmurs to Kerlyn, "I think the weyrlings are waiting for a 
critique, like we have after each drill. I know I feel like .. something 
should be said." She looks at Asrai and the others.

Benden Weyr> Caitria RAHHHHHH! Kassi!
Benden Weyr> Sisirye says, "Congrats Kassi!"

R'val removes Vidarth's straps and then walks off, muttering something 
about a bath.

R'val walks south.

T'ren attempts to distract himself as Portock works on his shoulder, "How 
was the ground crew, Kylee?" He winces and his back flexes at the pain of 
the various cleansing solutions and herbs used, but he doesn't allow 
himself to cry out.

Benden Weyr> Kethran congrats Kassi! Way to go, evilgreenrider!

Benden Weyr> Kassima's typist looks rather like Kassi does right now: 
I've been sitting here with my jaw hanging open for the last few minutes. 
Thanks, y'all!!! :) :)

Asrai looks over at all the congratulations going on. Hearing that Kassi 
is to be a Wingsecond she manages the first small smile since before 
threadfall started. It quickly dissapears, however, as she turns back to 
Kerlyn and Emlyn, nodding silently.

Benden Weyr> P'tran grins at Kassima and updates the knot (though you 
might actually want to respond ICly also :) )

Benden Weyr> S'riv says, "sucks to be Kassi!"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa nudges P'tran. She did. :)

Benden Weyr> T'ren chuckles, "Watch it, P'tran: before you know it, 
Thunderbolt will be renamed ThunderWaffle."

Portock finishes washing the wound and then coats his hands in redwort 
again. Once he is fully protected from the numbweed he dips in and begins 
to apply the ointment to T'ren's shoulder.

Benden Weyr> S'riv says, "wafflebolt has more style"

Benden Weyr> K'tyn grins at saer and T'ren.:)

T'ren visibly relaxes at the application of that malodorous but effective 
treatment, numbweed.

Kassima *does* finally manage to shut her jaw, as a vtol buzzes perilously 
close. "Sir, I...." Yep, this is definitely a first: Kassi is at a total 
lost for words. But not displeased, nope. "Sir, 'twould be my honor to 
accept!" And at that, she stops looking *quite* so stupid (though still a 
bit foolish) as she beams from ear to ear.

Kylee sighs. "Uhmm...I've been rolling bandages the whole time." She 
watches the procedure going on in front of her with interest. "Good to see 
my hard work won't go to waste." She grins cheekily at T'ren.

Sisirye walks here from the south.

"Well," Alyssa remarks with her quiet smile, "Thunderbolt does have some 
of the best wingseconds on Pern...moreso now." Stepping away from Herath, 
the grounded bluerider salutes Kassima and adds, "Congratulations, 
wingsecond."

Hyadeth lumbers here from the south.

Benden Weyr> T'ren grins to Kassi and slips into M Python, "Kassi, will 
you come join me and my knights at Camelot?"

Benden Weyr> K'tyn no! It's a silly place, Kassi. Don't go there! :)

P'tran grins at Kassima and fishes around his pockets for a few minutes 
before coming up with a somewhat wrinkled Wingsecond's knot. It looks like 
he's been carrying around that for awhile. "I meant to do this sooner, but 
I had a lot of things going on at once." He gives the knot to her.

T'ren salutes Kassi, "Well done, Kassima, well done."

Portock finishes up and pats T'ren on the other shoulder. "All good to 
go."

T'ren takes a deep breath and stands... encouraged, he flexes the shoulder 
and tests its mobility...

Benden Weyr> P'tran really has to head off, folks, so just ICly assume 
I"m still around doing typical post-Fall Weyrleaderly things :)

"Congrats, Kassi," Kindre says and near matches the greenrider's beam. 
"Shells, this means responsibility, you know," she grins. "Oh, I'm so 
proud of you."

T'ren murmurs thanks to Portock, "Thanks, Portock... I trust your touch 
and treatments for more than Master Rafael."

Kassima actually turns red at being saluted, but she nonetheless returns 
each before taking the knot and pinning it to her shoulder with pride. 
"Thankee, sir. I swear I'll do my best by the Wing the very moment I'm 
back on duty."

Portock grins, "Glad to be of survice."

P'tran * logs off but is ICly still doing various things ...

T'ren nods at Sisirye as he starts off for the Living Cavern.

T'ren mutters to Kylee, "Shall we... off?"

Sisirye nods back, then returns to leaning on Hyadeth, staring at nothing.

K'tyn is slowly coiling Prometh's straps, frowning quietly as he replays 
the fall in his head.

R'val walks here from the south.

R'val walks through unsmiling, wet from his bath. He nods curtly and moves 
into the living cavern

R'val walks beneath the lintel and disappears into the living cavern.

Kindre looks over her shoulder briefly, almost with a comical look on her 
face. "Jays, -this- is going to look sharding ugly in the morning I bet." 
Herath croons a bit to her, which prompts the rider to chuckle. "Been 
quite an eve, hmm," she wonders generally before drinking again from the 
'skin. "Hey there, Sisirye."

Emlyn is squatting against the wall of the bowl with her gear under one 
arm and Pleaith's coiled straps over the other shoulder.

Kylee nods. "In just a moment please?" She moves away from him and quietly 
approaches Kassima. "Congratulations Wingsecond."

Kerlyn absently peels back the shirtsleeve on her right arm, taking a 
closer look at the cause of the stinging sensation on her right wrist. It 
looks as though she received a fairly minor burn. She looks up at Emlyn, 
then the other weyrlings, then guestures for them to have a seat as well. 
She readjusts the riding jacket she's using as a cushion against the bowl 
wall. "A critique?" Fingers rake limp hair back from her eyes. She nods, 
"Generally, the fall was flown well. Most of the mistakes were minor and 
will be remedied by experience, which you'll be accumulating soon enough 
in the fighting wings. I think that what you really want to hear, though, 
is that it wasn't your fault, and that there wasn't anything you could do. 
Is wasn't, there wasn't, and as callous as it may sound, eventually you'll 
start to get used to it. That doesn't mean it gets easier. It just means 
you will become better equipped to deal with it."

Kassima shakes her head, staring down at her new knot with amazement plain 
on her face. "I never thought..." she murmurs to herself, still 
thunderstruck. "I never, ever thought...." Finally snapping out of her 
daze, she absolutely *beams* at Lys and Kindre, though not without some 
concern for the latter, before swiveling her head about to grin at the 
Journeywoman Weaver. "Thankee, Journeywoman--thankee muchly."

Asrai stands even straighter if possible at Kerlyn's words. It is as if a 
thick wall has formed around the petite, usually smiling and giddy 
Weyrling. "Yes Ma'am." Is all she says.

R'val comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

R'val walks back out with a mug of klah, surveying the scene before him. 
He moves quietly towards his dragon.

Alyssa can see Kassima's surrounded by well-wishers, Herath is calm, 
Kindre's taken care of...with a final pat to the gold's hide she leaves 
Herath to begin looking around in a personal check of the various dragons 
and injuries, smiling faintly as she realizes that everything's under 
control.

Kylee smiles and moves back over to T'ren. "I'm ready now. Where to?"

K'tyn smiles at Alyssa. "heya, Second," he murmurs. "Have you a spare jar 
of numbweed?"

Sisirye glances up at Kindre and nods again, "Weyrwoman." she responds. 
Then, removing her riding helmet she shakes out her golden curls and 
listens to Kerlyn, eyes still focused on the ground before her.

T'ren adds "Oh, a little refreshment sounds in order," and he escorts her 
back through the crowded bowl and to the Living Cavern.

Emlyn nods slowly. She says, "Well. S'ner was searing thread when he went. 
There are worse ways to go. Dying of the chest pain at a gather, for 
example."

T'ren walks beneath the lintel and disappears into the living cavern.

R'val looks around the crowd, leaning against his dragon. He sips his 
klah.

Kylee walks beneath the lintel and disappears into the living cavern.

Alyssa turns around on her heel and closes the distance between K'tyn and 
herself in two quick long-legged strides. "Always...are you all right?" 
she asks hurriedly, looking at Prometh with concern.

Asrai's jaw tightens at Emlyn's words....but she remains silent.

K'tyn smiles at Alyssa. "We're well. Just some Ashburn because this rider 
and his bronze haven't learned to duck, yet."

Kethran comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Kethran finally wanders out of the Living Cavern, a look of relief on his 
face, and a mug of ale finally in hand. He leans against the edge of the 
bowl, next to the Living Cavern, and calmly watches the proceedings.

Alyssa offers the jar of numbweed, with its paddle, to K'tyn. "And this 
from my wingleader," she murmurs with a bare hint of a smile.

Kerlyn's face looks as tired as any of the weyrlings', and that's 
reflected in her voice. "And as you're not in the fighting wings yet, you 
still have the unparalleled pleasure of getting to hear my 'advice'. It's 
not particularily heroic, noble, or healty to cork up emotions." This from 
someone who comes across about as feeling as the wall she's leaning 
against. "Talk about it with your friends, have a drink or two in his 
honour, once you've had a few days to adjust. Talk to me or Sionelle, or 
someone else, if you need to, but I really don't want to deal with 
unresolved issues 3 falls from now when you're drunk, or reckless, or 
whatever else you're likely to channel this into if you don't deal with 
it."

Emlyn seems oblivious to the impact of her comment on Asrai. She takes a 
long breath, then rises from her squat to lean against the wall. The 
assistant weyrlingmaster's words don't really require comment, so Emlyn 
simply nods her understanding.

Asrai nods slowly, perhaps deep down knowing that this latest comment of 
the AWLM was aimed at herself...amoung some others perhaps. But her jaw 
remains tight....her teeth must be killing her.

Ursa listens to Kerlyn's words, still hovering on Emlyn's other side. She 
doesn't speak yet, just nodding silently.

Kethran watches Asrai with some concern, but still keeps his distance, his 
attention focussed on the young Weyrling as he sips his ale solemnly. This 
isn't his concern, of course, but still, he watches silently, a bit of the 
worry inside him visible on his features.

Emlyn speaks up in the silence, "Drills same time tomorrow morning, 
Kerlyn?"

R'val crosses his arms over his chest. Leaning against Vidarth, he watches 
the crowd that is too busy to notice anything.

Sisirye nods in Kerlyn's general direction. Looks at the people around her 
a moment, then drops her eyes again, listening for the answer to Emlyn's 
question.

K'tyn waves at Kethran wearily, grinning at Alyssa. "Aye. That's me, hm? 
I'll just take this and go apply it at the lake side. I'm....not the most 
pleasant scent." He takes the numbweed and jar carefully.

R'val walks determinedly towards Kassi, stands directly in front of her, 
smirking, and salutes, "Let me be the first to do to you what you always 
do to Ryialla, Kassi my dear." He says, clearly enjoying himself.

"Let me know if you need any help," Alyssa remarks to K'tyn, then looks 
reluctantly upwards. "I really should get to bed since everything seems to 
be under control...."

Kethran looks over in K'tyn's direction, and inclines his head to the 
bronzerider. "Need some company, Kiat?" he offers, with a straight face. 
"Or help with Prometh?"

Benden Weyr> T'ren says, "Too late, R'val. I already saluted her!:)"

Kerlyn proceeds to ignore her own (previosuly given) advice on listening 
to the good healer's advice, and wraps her wrist in her slightly grubby 
hankerchief. "A half-hour earlier, for those who are uninjured. Before 
drills, Weyrlingmaster Sionelle will want to go over this evening's fall 
in detail, explaining where things should have been done differently, and 
what was done correctly. You did manage to get one or two things right. 
You're dismissed for the evening once you've tended to your dragons, and 
I'm available any time if anyone wants or needs to talk to me."

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Feh."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Me too."

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "First Dawnslight rider then. Whatever....:)"

Kassima groans at R'val, putting her hands over her eyes as he starts to 
salute. "I'm nay seeing this! People are *nay* saluting me!" she declares. 
Kassi's in a state of denial, it would seem.

Ursa pipes up. "If you'll forgive me, Kerlyn, I'm about to contradict you 
on something."

Emlyn straightens at the dismissal and gives Kerlyn her best, most 
respectful salute. "It was an honor to sear thread under your direction, 
Ma'am." When Ursa speaks up, she turns to face the brownrider.

Asrai nods then clicks her heels together as she salutes the AWLM sharply, 
"Yes, Ma'am!" She then walks off crisply to Cygnith's side, undoing his 
straps and looping them neatly over her shoulder before the two head off 
towards the Lake. At Ursa's comment she stops, turning to listen 
carefully.

Kethran turns his gaze to Kassima, and then grins suddenly as the 
greenrider turns enough to reveal her new knot. "Kassima! 
Congratulations!" he calls cheerfully -- and just to be obnoxious, he 
tosses a salute in her direction.

Kerlyn's eyebrow raises, and she manages a tired smile, along with her 
returned salute to Emlyn, "Ma'am?"

K'tyn pauses on his way out to the lake, turning to grin at Kethran. 
"Always need a hand..." he trails off, listening to Ursa as well.

Kindre, upon overhearing K'tyn, wrinkles her nose. "I must smell worse 
than those tunnelsnakes I get to sew up every day or so..." she remarks. 
Sighing, she peers over her bandaged shoulder. "I suppose, though, that 
the Springs aren't the best idea for me at this moment..." She giggles at 
R'val's flourishing salute to Kassima. "Ah, now it won't just be 
Candidates and Weyrlings, Kassi. 'Twill be a turnround thing!" she can't 
help but point out.

Kethran lifts his mug in quiet salute to the bronzerider. "I'll be along 
shortly. Need me to bring you anything, bronzerider?"

R'val snickers vilely at Kassi, 'Just you wait till I tell Ryialla. She'll 
be delighted."

Kassima makes a face at Kethran, returning the salute as sharply as she's 
ever done. "Thankee... I think," she laughs.

K'tyn shakes his head, remembering something. "No...wait. Kethran, come 
here, hm? You may bring me something." He turns to speak quietly to the 
assistant steward.

Alyssa moves to Kassima's side and embraces her warmly, whispering, "Long 
overdue, love, long overdue. Kindre...do you want Adonith to keep Herath 
company tonight?"

Ursa considers, then amends somewhat, "Actually, I may not." Then starts 
on her meandering way to her point. "The Thread has been fought, the 
training's been proved. The wings fought well, but it was tough for 
everyone. Dawnslight needed more Riders, and I'm going to invite Emlyn to 
join us. Dawnslight has a fine tradition of strong green riders, and I'm 
sure she'll prove to be another. So... I was going to say that she won't 
be joining the weyrlings for morning drills, but as her wingleader, if she 
accepts," and finally Ursa glances at Emlyn, "I would want her to hear 
what Sionelle has to say, anyhow."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Ooooh, Ursa, you CHEAT."

Kethran chuckles, and shakes his finger at Kassima. "I'll just be 
including you in my once-a-sevenday hidework deliveries, is what'll 
happen," he says, with a slightly evil glint in his eyes. K'tyn's question 
grabs his attention, and he lifts his head, crossing easily through the 
crowd. "Hmmm?"

Kassima rolls her eyes at R'val. "Don't I know it," she grumbles good-
naturedly, then takes a moment to gape at Kindre... and simply shudders. 
"Oh, nay... surely nay. I guess I can handle it as long as they don't call 
me 'ma'am', but... Turn-around?" Her shudder this time is more playful, 
and she winks cheerfully at the goldrider before hugging Lys with just as 
much warmth. "Ach, Lys, I...." Mark this one on your calendars, folks. 
Kassi is speechless for the second time in one day.

Asrai nods slowly, "Congratulations, Emlyn, you will serve them proud...as 
well as the memory of the Weyrling wing. We will miss you."

R'val shrugs one shoulder and smile sfaintly, "Congratulations anyway, 
Kassi." He says, and wanders towards his dragon.

Ursa considers, and realizes it never was said, so says it. "Emlyn, 
Dawnslight would be honoured to have you join us as a Rider."

Kindre smiles wide at Alyssa, her expression easily readable as grateful. 
"Do you think he'd mind? I fell okay..." the wine seems to have calmed her 
mind as the numbweed has her skin, "but she's still...well, you know Hera. 
I'd hate to be a bother..."

Benden Weyr> Ursa says, "What'd I cheat?? :)"

Kerlyn's head tilts to one side, as she regards first Emlyn, then Ursa. 
"Congratulations to you both. Dawnslight will be the stronger for the 
addition." Her head leans back against the wall, then she makes an effort 
to heave herself back to her feet.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "You snuck in and grabbed a weyrling while 
Skyfire wasn't looking. Hee!"

Benden Weyr> T'ren nods about Ursa, "You can't trust her... she's 
dangerously dangerous."

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Enh?"

Sisirye is nudged out of her thoughts by Hyadeth's snout and she focuses 
again in time to here Ursa. Managing a smile she sends it in Emlyn's 
direction, knowing congrats would never be heard over the people.

Benden Weyr> Asrai says, "Emlyn=Dawnslight wing, R'val :)"

K'tyn frowns, then grins at Ursa. "Well, congratulations, Emlyn. You'll 
make a fine addition to Dawnslight, I am sure."

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Ahhh. Cool."

Emlyn is mind-weary and bone-tired. Asrai's comment seems to confirm what 
she thought she heard, and she looks over at Asrai, then back at Ursa as 
the wingleader makes more plain what she's requesting. She seriously 
considers it, then, says, "Yes, I accept. Pleiath and I accept. We'll do 
it. We .. " She grins and laughs. "We accept."

R'val grins at Emlyn sunnily, "Emlyn!" He moves over and gives her a brief 
hug, with one strong arm nearly crushing her, "It's wonderful! You're a 
great addition to our wing." He says, beaming widely.

From the direction of the lake is heard a sweet-voiced trilling bugle.

Kassima regains her use of voice as she hears Keth. "Weekly?" Dear 
Faranth, she sounds *glad* of that. "Hidework to occupy me, weekly?" Make 
that *elated*. She must really have been bored. Grinning with delight, 
she turns to R'val and chuckles at him. "Oh, m'friend, the congratulations 
are more than appreciated." She salutes him, then, with the heel-clicking 
formality she usually reserves for T'fian and P'tran and that sort.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Congrats, Emlyn!! :)"

R'val moves away quickly, blushing at his own impetuousity, "Erk. That 
wasn't quite the right moment to do that." He smiles weakly at Emlyn, 
"Err, you know what I mean."

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Pleiath broadcasts her pride and 
surprise over the weyr.

Kethran chuckles quietly at K'tyn, and winks in the bronzerider's 
direction, laughing softly. "Oh, you did, did you. Hmmm. Just this once." 
He ducks into the Living Cavern, and returns a moment later with something 
concealed within his hand, which he passes into K'tyn's grasp without 
revealing.

"Adonith would be happy to, I think, Kindre," is Alyssa's reply. "I'll get 
the watchdragon to take me back to the weyr once I've looked in on the few 
dragons in the infirmary. Call me if you need anything, weyrwoman."

Kindre smirks at Kassima. "Oh, well, the salutes will surely precede the 
'ma'am's, don't you know!" Grinning first at her elation of hidework, 
Kindre then turns to regard the small commotion over by the Weyrlings. 
Catching congrats on the tongues of others around her, she finally 
understands what happened. "Oh, Emlyn! Good show for you! You and Pleiath, 
I'm certain, will be a great addition."

Emlyn is crushed in R'val's impulsive hug and she grins at him fondly 
before blushing at all the nice things the people around her are saying.

K'tyn clears his throat suddenly. "Ah, excuse me, Kerlyn? Might I have a 
word with you and your Weyrlings?"

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Vidarth bugles proudly for Pleiath.

Benden Weyr> Asrai snugs an Emlyn, "First Searched, First Impress, First 
to make a Wing, good job!" :)

Benden Weyr> Kindre woohoo's Emlyn! :) This is quite the eventful eve, 
hmm? :)

Dragon> Hyadeth bespoke Benden dragons with << Our congratulations to 
both you and your rider Pleiath. >>

Benden Weyr> Alyssa nods and HUGS Emlyn. :)

Benden Weyr> Sisirye snugsa Emlyn.

Kerlyn nods tiredly to K'tyn, wrapping her hanky a little tighter around 
her wrist. "Certainly K'tyn. Go ahead."

Ursa smiles, pleased, edged with intense weariness. The knot is produced 
from a pocket in her Riding Gear, it's been there the entire Fall waiting 
for this. "Welcome to Dawnslight" she says, saluting.

Kassima smiles broadly at Emlyn, saluting her now, with much more 
sincerity than any other salute she's given tonight. "Welcome to the 
ranks, rider," she says in a formal tone that's somewhat spoiled by her 
merry wink in the Weyrling's--no, *greenrider's*--direction.

R'val smiles amiably at Emlyn and steps back, not getting in the way.

Asrai remains where she is, as K'tyn wishes now to speak with the 
Weyrlings. she goes to an at rest position...despite Kerlyn's earlier 
words she still does not seem to relax at all.

Turning back to Alyssa, Kindre sighs, her smile nearly a contented one. 
"You're certain? She's such a...wherry abouty this kind of thing." Herath, 
of course, denies this charge with a tart snort in Kindre's direction, 
though her eyes still reflect tinges of worry as she gazes at her bandaged 
rider.

Adonith answers this by resting his head on Herath's neck. A rather odd 
sight but still a sweet one.

Emlyn takes the offered knot and crushes it in her free hand, her blush 
deepening as Kassima and Kindre's words reach her.

Kerlyn leans back against the wall of the bowl, her arms crossed over her 
jacket, against her chest.

Pleiath lumbers here from the south.

Kassima turns her head and offers to Lys, "Lysseth and I can take you up, 
when you wish; 'twould be nay problem 'tall." Her attention back to Emlyn, 
she side-comments to the younger rider, "You're taking this much better 
than some Weyrlings do, y'know. I'm told that I looked like a poleaxed 
wherry, and I think I heard a tale of one who fainted on the site, cracked 
his head on a stone floor, and had t'be put in the infirmary for a month 
to recover!"

Pleiath comes galloping up with the enthusiasm she's displayed from the 
moment she cracked shell. Thankfully, she's no longer as graceless, though 
she does spray sand as she cavorts.

K'tyn steps forward, the slick sheen of numbweed gel on his cheeks 
gleaming in the light. "I am sorry to say that I too, congratulate 
Northern Lights Wing for their timeliness in the fall. Without them, tis 
likely that there would have been lives lost. I am well aware of that. 
And, to that end...I wish to extend my personal and heart felt thanks. We 
all did a fine job up there. I am proud of all of my wing mates and... 
most especially these fine young ones who assisted."

Sisirye is seriously starting to look a bit on restless, though she 
remains silent and turns to watch K'tyn..her fingers start idly picking at 
the buttons on her riding jacket.

Alyssa smiles gratefully at Kassima, touches Kindre reassuringly, then 
excuses herself to move toward K'tyn, quietly, watchfully.

Asrai nods, her voice soft, "Thank you K'tyn." Something in her violet 
eyes say that the wall is near to breaking. As if in demial, Asrai 
straightens even more.

Herath snuffs once more before letting herself be lulled into silence by 
Adonith. Kindre chuckles watching the pair, then fully laughs at both 
Kassima's recollection of Weyrlings past and Pleiath's excited jaunting.

Emlyn gives Kassima a quick look as she describes other riders' responses 
to being asked to join wings. She mutters, "my knees," before turning her 
full attention back on K'tyn.

Pleiath turns a happy circle and bumps Vidarth with her hip as she does 
so. She's about to try to get the blue to wrestle with her when she's 
called sharply to sense by a mental command.

K'tyn smiles. "To that end, I have come to determine that Skyfire would be 
proud and pleased to accept Sisirye and Asrai into its ranks...if they 
wish..."

Dragon< Benden dragons sense that Pleiath is contrite. << My rider says 
Herath would not behave thus. >>

Vidarth nudges Pleiath gently, the older blue far calmer, warbling a clear 
note of amusement at the younger green's jubilance.

R'val grins sidelong at Emlyn and nudges her with a knowing look, "Your 
green seems rather pleased. I hope she's reflecting the emotions of her 
rider."

Alyssa, flanking K'tyn, smiles the same as her wingleader as she studies 
the two aforementioned weyrlings, a quiet pride in her stance.

Kindre's eyes widen...well, much as they can in her odd state of mind...
upon hearing K'tyn. Smiling wide at boththe Weyrlings, she awaits their 
responses.

K'tyn opens his palm, revealing two rider's knots. "Sisi? Asrai?" His 
question is quiet. "I'd be honored to have you fly with me."

Asrai's violets eyes widen, "But sir...even after the death?" Her voice is 
rather shaken.

Kethran stands back, watching his friend, and the two Weyrlings, with 
undisguised glee on his face as it's safe to reveal the secret. His eyes 
sparkle with mirth as he adds his congratulations to those around him.

Kerlyn's fingers rake her hair out of her eyes again, watching the ranks 
of 'her' class continue to diminish, with other wingleaders motioning 
other weyrlings aside as well.

Pliarth backwings for a landing.

Dragon> Herath bespoke Benden dragons with << Not with witnesses, 
dearheart... >>

R'val slaps his hands together and grins widely, "Ah, and now Sisirye and 
Asrai! Wonderful!

Ryialla undoes the buckles and straps tying her to Pliarth.

Ryialla quickly slides down Pliarth's foreleg and jumps to the ground. She 
turns to pet Pliarth's muzzle and grins as she gets soundly whuffled.

Ryialla blinks. "There's a party and I wasn't invited?"

Emlyn manages to grin at R'val, though her knees are shaking 
uncontrollably. She looks back at her former wingmates to see how they'll 
respond. Asrai's question draws a slight nod. She wants to say, 'even with 
the death', but knows Asrai must be able to tell herself this for it to 
have any meaning.

Alyssa glances over her shoulder and waves Ryialla near. "K'tyn's just 
extended an invitation to Asrai and Sisirye to join our wing."

Ryialla beams. "Asrai, Sisirye, that's wonderful! You -are- joining, 
aren't you?"

K'tyn nods at Asrai. "Even so. Will you join?"

Ursa breaks into a dry, almost sentimental smile as she watches the two 
weyrlings invited into her former wing. "You both will be an asset to 
Skyfire," she says confidently. A nod adds confirmation to this.

Kerlyn doesn't look so much like she was at a party as that she was run 
over by a herd of stampeding herdbeasts, and the rest of the former 
weyrling wing don' tlook much better. She gives Ryialla a tired smile, and 
lifts her hand in a greeting.

"Evening, Ryialla," Kindre calls upon seeing her, then drains another half 
a pint or two from her wineskin.

It must be some hormonal thing that makes Kassi's eyes gleam suspiciously 
as she watches Kiat offer Asrai and Sisirye their knots, jubilation 
written plainly on her face. "Brownrider," she nods to Sisirye, followed 
by, "Bluerider," for Asrai. "Welcome to the Benden Wings! Assuming that 
you're going to accept....?" She quirks up an eyebrow, still grinning.

Sisirye looks at both K'tyn and Alyssa a moment, then at the knot. Her 
incredible silence is finally broken as she nods and steps forward with a 
nudge from Hyadeth. "It would be our honor Sir." And actually cracks a 
smile for the first time after the fall.

R'val spots Ryialla and grins amiably, waving towards her and pointing at 
Kassi jubilantly, hollering, "Look who made Wingsecond!"

Ryialla says "Oh?" She follows the pointing finger and. "Well, well, 
well.."

R'val smirks, "Salute at will," he urges.

K'tyn raises a brow, a slow smile on his face. "Then, take the knot, my 
dear, and wear it proudly."

Asrai bites her lower lip...hard. Silent tears, held in since the Blue 
Weyrling's death, fall unheaded down her cheeks, "Yes, sir...K'tyn...with 
honor." she starts forward, also nudged by her lifemate. true to form some 
rock gets in the way and trips the Bluerider, sending her sprawling at 
K'tyn's feet.

Alyssa smiles at K'tyn and looks at the knot, then at Sisirye. "If I might 
be permitted, Wingleader, brownrider?"

Ursa sighs. "If I don't go scrub Spineth soon," she drawls quietly to 
Emlyn, "I'm going to be a Very Bad Rider."

Kassima watches Ryi warily, now that her attention is distracted from the 
two promotees. "Heya, Ryi," she offers, with a tentative smile and--
miracle of miracles!--no salute attached.

K'tyn turns red, then grins at Lys. "Please, do."

Kerlyn slips away from the crowd through the edges, picking up her 
discarded helmet and gloves from the bowl floor, heading south in the 
company of her dragon.

Sorath lumbers south.

Sisirye smiles and goes to take the knot, forced to jump outta the way 
last minute to avoid stepping on Asrai. She tries to help her up. Then 
looks at Alyssa "Ma'am?"

Kerlyn walks south.

K'tyn absently helps Asrai to her feet. "Well, now. That was not 
necessary, sweet."

Emlyn grins at her former wingmates and gives them a jaunty salute. "Good 
work, Sisi, Asrai. I'll see you at the hot springs."

Emlyn walks south.

Pleiath lumbers south.

Ryialla stiffens up, in scroll-perfect form. "Congratulations, Miss 
wonderous marvelous spiffy spectacular she-who-knows-all-sees-all-and-is-
all omniscient omnipotent supercalifragilisiticexpliaidocious fanstatic 
fabulous crowning glory of a Wingsecond -Ma'am-." Revenge, she is sweet.

Benden Weyr> Kassima dear Faranths at Ryi! I never said anything that 
bad to you! :)

Spineth has been waiting patiently. His lifemate has business to attend to 
after a Fall. But her business is taking far too long. At last, at a 
silent reassurance, he turns and lumbers south without a look back.

Asrai doesn't even bother to brush herself off. "Thanks, K'tyn." through 
the tears, a bright smile forms. "And Skyfire to boot?"

Lifting the first knot from K'tyn's grasp, Alyssa removes Sisirye's 
weyrling knot and affixes to her jacket the knot of a Benden brownrider. 
"Welcome to Skyfire, Sisirye."

Spineth lumbers south.

Ursa walks south.

K'tyn grins, "Skyfire is proud to have you. Now! I say we all retire to 
the pools for some much needed scrubbing, hm?" He says the last loudly. 
"Anyone?"

R'val applauds Ryialla's revenge loudly, beaming, clearly enjoying the 
sight, "Give 'er, Ryi!"

Cygnith rears back on his haunches, lifting his muzzle to the sky to let 
our an enthusiastic *BUGLE*...near deafening to anyone nearby.

Asrai grins, "Umm, K'tyn...the knot?"

Kethran grins, and lifts his hand. "Me! I go to the highest bidder!" he 
adds, with a bit of a laugh.

Kassima actually goes red, and a fairly impressive shade of red at that. 
"Ryi!" she wails. "I never called you aught like that, surely!"

K'tyn uhs? "Oh! Here! I was holding it in my hand. I forgot."

Benden Weyr> Ryialla is eeeeevil, Kassi.

Asrai giggles, sounding much more like herself.

Alyssa quirks a brow at Asrai and says with a light laugh as she takes the 
second knot from K'tyn, "Do give a grounded wingsecond her joy and let her 
take care of this, bluerider?" Her fingers gently remove Asrai's old knot 
and replace it with the new knot of a full bluerider at Benden. "And 
welcome to you, too, Asrai."

Sisirye looks at the knot, then looks rather stunned as she takes a deep 
breath and straightens herself. She salutes sharply, then a slow stupid 
looking smile spreads over her face "Thank you Wingsecond."

R'val grins and winks over at his unofficial mentee, "Way to go, I'm proud 
of you Sisi. Unofficially of course.' He grins at her.

Ryialla puts her hand to her mouth. "Should I make it longer, Kassima?"

K'tyn grins, his cheeks red. "It's been a long day," he explains. "Aye, 
Lys. I'll let you do it, forI'm as fumble-fingered and brained as the rest 
of the lot."

Asrai smiles brightly, impulsively leaning forward to place a kiss on 
Alyssa's cheek. "Thanks."

Benden Weyr> F'nar hmms. Does this bring your price up from 23 marks, 
Kassi?

Sisirye grins over at R'val and winks back "Of course."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa welcomes Asrai and Sisirye to Skyfire! :)

Benden Weyr> Suzot cheers for Asrai and Sis!

R'val moves over and hugs Sisirye crushingly and quite officially, kisses 
her on the cheek, and puts her down again, still grinning.

Alyssa smiles and embraces Asrai, then Sisirye. "Welcome. And now, I'm 
afraid, I really must get to the infirmary. Good night, all."

Kethran grins at the Weyrlings, then turns his gaze to K'tyn and his 
sister. "So, is this a rider thing, or could you use the assistance of a 
broken-down assistant steward who can still scrub a dragon or two in his 
old age?" he wonders.

Benden Weyr> Sisirye snugs Alyssa "Thank you!"

Kassima regains her composure and stands ramrod-straight, dignity only a 
bit marred by the fact that she's not in rider gear and is beginning to 
get to that obviously-spawning stage of pregnancy. "With all respect, Miss 
Augustly Spectacular, Fabulous, Resplendant, Dazzling, Incredible, Wise, 
Sagacious, Virtuous, Distinguished, Respectable, Incomparibly Brilliant 
and Intelligent Miss Ryialla Skyfire Wingsecond Lady-Ma'am, I somehow 
doubt that there's need for *that*!" She grins with no hint of repetance, 
then spins on her heel to salute Lys as a matter of reflex... then 
chuckles sheepishly and turns it into a wave instead. "Good night, Lys. 
And clearest of skies t'you as well."

Sisirye continues to smile and nods at Alyssa. "G'night.." eyes slowly 
returning to her new knot, then to Hyadeth who's head has appeared at her 
shoulder.

Alyssa moves beneath the rocky overhang that protects the Infirmary 
entrance.

Sisirye reaches up a hand to pat the brown as he practically breathes down 
her neck. "I know Hya. We actually graduated my love." then she turns to 
Asrai and impulsively hugs her. "Congrats Wingmate."

R'val grins towards Sisirye and Asrai fondly and reminds them, "No more 
saluting now, either, hmm? And shortly, your very own weyrs."

Asrai smiles and turns to hug Sisi, "wow." OK, not the most brilliant 
thing to say, but this /is/ Asrai after all.

Kassima adds to Asrai and Sisi, with a grin, "You have my utmost 
felicitations and condolences, you two."

Sisirye nods up at R'val "Mmm...no kidding. Though I 'spect we'll probably 
end up doing it anyway, for a while. I feel like it's been pounded into my 
head to salute now."

R'val grins, "I found it hard to resist saluting. Even saluted my newly 
promoted weyrmate by accident a few times, when I was still a weyrling.

Kassima wrinkles her nose at R'val. "I imagine she much appreciated 
that." Walking over to stand by her own dragon, she gives Lysseth's neck a 
sound hug before leading her over to where Kindre, Herath, and Adonith 
are. She flops down on a green foreleg once her lifemate has settled 
herself.

R'val chuckles, "Kieri threatened to brain me with a shoe if I didn't 
stop, as I recall.' he reminisces, leaning into Vidarth.

Kethran smiles quietly at Asrai and the other weyrlings. "Congratulations, 
you all. Benden's proud of you. Or, at least, I am. But I think it can be 
safely assumed the rest of the Weyr agrees with me."

Asrai takes a deep breath, slowly letting it out as she fingers the badge. 
"Wow." she says again for good measure. She then looks over at Cygnith 
with a bright smile before looking at the others. "He says he is very 
happy, but wants a bath. Thank you Keth, it was a very pleasant surprise."

Kassima grins at R'val. "If I hadn't still been shell-shocked from m'own 
graduation when T'lar, Meli, and Aph first saluted me, I think I would've 
done the same."

R'val chuckles faintly, "No doubt, Wingsecond."

Kethran chuckles slightly. "So, do you want any help with the bath? Or 
would an old assistant Steward accidentally see something he shouldn't?" 
he asks, with a twinkle in his eyes. "Some secret rider-things." Yes, 
he's definitely teasing.

Kindre sighs, her eyes blinking now and again as she resists sleep. 
Laughing now and again at a few more of those rider jokes of Kassima's, 
she pipes in her agreement to Kethran. "True enough! We're all very proud 
to have you protecting Benden's skies with us."

Asrai blushes, just as Keth probably hoped she would...or at least 
suspected, "I wouldn't mind at all Kethran."

Asrai adds, "We'll meet you down there when you get a chance."

Asrai walks south.

Cygnith lumbers south.

Sisirye grins and then looks both tired and confused, as the rush of 
events wears off. "I dunno whether to take a bath or a nap." Glancing at 
Hya she adds "And neither does he."

R'val chuckles, "You can bathe, then nap?" He suggests.

Kassima grins at Kin as she exhausts her share of bronzerider/greenrider 
jokes for the nonce, promising, "I'll find some more tomorrow, t'keep you 
occupied with... shells, R'val," she winces, "just Kassi will be fine. 
Honest."

R'val smiles dryly at Kassi, "Oh no. You're a wingsecond now." He waggles 
his eyebrows.

Benden Weyr> Kassima also congrats Emlyn, Asrai, and Sisirye, too. 
Welcome to the ranks, riders! :)

Benden Weyr> Emlyn says, "Thanks Kassima. :-) Benden is way cool."

Sisirye nods and sighs "Probably a good idea. Try and scrub somea this 
firestone stench offa me." putting a hand on Hyadeth's flank she heads 
toward the lake. "C'mon dearheart."

"Doesn't mean that m'name's been changed to Wingsecond, though," Kassi 
points out with her usual logic, or lack thereof. "If'n 'twas so, there'd 
be many other Wingseconds on Pern who'd be confused because so many of 
them--us--would have the same name!"

R'val chuckles, "But surely I'm supposed to show respect to my superiors, 
no?" He winks at Kassi.

Sisirye walks south.

Hyadeth lumbers south.

Kindre can't help but giggle at big at Kassima's logic. "She's a point 
there, R'val. Oh, Kassi, I'm just so proud still...ma'am," she can't help 
but tease.

R'val chuckles, "Well, she is the wingsecond. if she says so, she's right, 
eh?"

Kassima makes a face at R'val. "Allow me t'use the argument that Lys used 
on me: you can either call someone by their title with nay respect at all, 
or call 'em by their name and mean utmost respect. I think I can trust you 
and others to call me by name." Turning her eyes towards Kindre, she grins 
at the goldrider. "Good t'hear it, ma'am!" she returns cheerfully. Only 
her faint wince at Kin's use of the M-word betrays her facade of 
flippancy.

R'val sighs faintly, sagging against Vidarth, "Yeah, well. Congrats 
anyway, Kassima." He turns back to Vidarth and begins to undo his straps.

Kassima watches R'val with puzzlement, plainly not quite sure what his 
problem is. "Thankee, R'val," she answers finally.

R'val sends Vidarth's straps tumbling to the ground and nods in 
satisfaction, "Tahdah. There you go, big blue guy, ready to nap or swim, 
whichever you choose." He watches his dragon expectantly.

Kindre laughs. "Ah, shells. How about this," she proposes to the 
greenrider, "You don't call me ma'am or salute, and I won't vice versa...
except, o'course, when we hafta?" Smiling a bit, she gazes around the 
bowl. "Hmm, wonder if this'll," she indicates her shoulder with a slight 
tilt of her head, "will keep me from 'tweening. Ah, Faranth, I'll worry 
over it tomorrow I supppose. We'll mayhaps have a lot of time to peruse 
the records after all."

Kethran leans back against the wall of the bowl. "I'm heading off to catch 
a swim. I didn't fight any Thread, mind, but I moved a ton of supplies to 
help you all do it. Take care, all!" He wanders off southward.

Kethran walks south.

Kassima grins and offers her hand to the goldrider. "There's a deal I'll 
shake on, right enough... 'twill, Kin, I'd bet half m'life on it. Y'can't 
be *betweening* with an open wound like that."

"No? Crackdust...it's not too bad off," she says and touches the wound 
lightly, causing her lips to wrinkle as her face scrinches up. "Hmm...
mayhaps I'm wrong. To be true, I didn't see it coming. But, nonetheless," 
she holds out her right hand to shake, "It's a deal. The records and 
mayhaps driving Salless mad by hanging around the cavern too much," she 
smirks.