-------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Second Rescue Run Date: June 18, 1998 Places: Bitra's Snow Slopes and Courtyard Game: PernMUSH Copyright Info: The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kassi's Note: The saga of the Bitran blizzard continues as Kassi, unable to sleep despite a long day of drills, riding the search sweep, and even travelling to High Reaches, heads out with another group of riders to make a midnight run over the area where they found snowbound victims before. As with the previous rescue log, I've modified the exit messages to reflect that Lysseth would ICly have been flying. All things prefixed by <*> take place away from Lysseth while Kassi was riding her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Log: <*> This late in the evening, the only way to discern the presence of the low-flying arrow of dragons would be by their wingbeats, for the cloud- cover and darkness shroud the shapes of the creatures in shadow. Of course, anyone with particularly keen hearing might be able to make out the riders quibbling as well. "I don't see why we're still flying this late," a male voice grumbles. "Only the dragons can see anything...." His only reply, though, is the continuation of the sweep, with the large creatures skimming only about a length above the treetops as they look for any signs. <*> Kasher shivers audibly as he cradles his arm, trying to stay out of the wind he's tucked himself into the lee of a large tree somewhat back from the edge of the forest. Hearing an unfamiliar noise he tries to shout getting only a squeak out. <*> Kasher crawls slowly out to a clearing hoping to be better seen and better able to see, continually trying to shout out but only managing a squeak, or a hoarse cough. <*> When the dragons turn back for another sweep, a female voice with a distinctive brogue can be made out between gusts of wind: that of the lead rider. "Y'know full well we didn't cover all this ground a'fore, L'cher. There *could* still be someone. Tell Leerth to keep his eyes and ears sharp!" The only answer seems to be the rider's continuation of the sweep. At a level lower than the dragons, a less organized but very large fair of fire-lizards flies. One of these is diverted by the sound of an odd squeak. The small blue, banded in Telgar Weyr colors with accents of green and red, flies in to investigate, his bright eyes sharp and whirling with flecks of red. <*> Kasher watches Shamal alight elsewhere. <*> Shamal suddenly takes off, chirruping loudly as he senses other firelizards. <*> The cough and Khazarai's chitters together draw more of the low-flying 'lizard fair, and an assemblage of blues, greens, and a single gold begin to dart down towards the area. The appearance of another of their kind elicits a welcome of chitters and bugles--and *that* attracts the riders' attention. The dark shape at the lead of the V-shaped formation peels away, following the cries, as the rest of the riders fly on. When it lands on the ground nearby with a soft *thump* and creak of snow, the shape may be discernable as that of a smallish-sized dragon. "Heyla?" that female voice calls, tentatively, from nearby. "Is anyone there?" <*> Shamal swoops back down to land on a dark sitting form leaning against a tree, "Here..." a hoarse whisper escapes his throat. <*> There's a sudden gleam of light as a glowbasket is unshielded by the dragon's rider, illuminating the area--and making it possible for her to make out, with some squinting, the form that is *not* another tree. "Shells! Lyss, tell 'em we've found another one--stay where you are," she calls reassuringly, beginning to unbuckle her straps to slide down to the ground. "Are you all right? You've been out here awhile... I wasn't sure we'd find anyone else out here." You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles, cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully. The figure waves weakly with one arm, his other lying at odd angles on his lap. His brown firelizard croons reassuringly in his ear. Kassima holds up her glowbasket, the wan light of which is at least an improvement over the cloud-hidden moons, and makes her way carefully towards the tree. "Thank Faranth you're found... can y'speak?" Kassi unslings a sack from her shoulder and, setting it down on the snow, draws out a blanket and a wineskin, both of which she proffers. When she sees the arm, though, she winces. "Broken... gah. Lad, I know almost naught of field-Healing, but I've numbweed if'n you need it for the trip back to the Hold. We thought there might be some trouble after the last group... well, never mind that now." "I can try..." the figure replies hoarsely, "And don't worry about numbweed it's numb from the cold anyways." he smiles weakly, the brown 'lizard softly caressing his cheek and crooning still. Kassima chuckles faintly, a sympathetic sound. "All right, then. D'you think you can make it aboard m'dragon? She'll fly as smoothly as possible, though I warn you, it may still be a bit of a bumpy ride in these winds." The darker shadow of the aforementioned dragon walks closer to where the trees are, stopping just short of the range of the branches, and lowering her neck as closely to the ground as she can manage. Kasher tries to lever himself up with his one hand and sort of gets to his knees before he stumbles back again a soft curse escaping his lips, "It seems I may need some help to stand." he replies softly, holding out his hand. "Gladly," Kassi replies, setting down sack and glow to take the outstretched hand. She pulls upwards, with as much of a gentle firmness as she can manage. "Watch your step; 'tis bound t'be slick--which you probably know better'n I." Kasher stumbles slowly up to the dragon a smile on his face, "Thanks." he whispers to both dragon and rider. A chirrup from Shamal emphasizing the statement. Kassima smiles back, picking up her equipment before following suit. "Don't mention it. Our duty and pleasure, y'may be certain." Lysseth turns her dark, dusky head to watch the young man, giving a faint *whuff* of seeming agreement. "D'you need any help getting up? There're extra straps there--" She gestures towards the base of the dragon's neck. Kasher pulls himself up quickly almost falling back down before regaining his balance, "How do you put these things on?" he asks hoarsely his voice still soft, as he settles himself on the dragon. Kasher takes hold of Lysseth's riding straps and climbs aboard the green dragon, who keeps a wary eye on him all the while. Kassima explains as she refastens her sack and the glowbasket to the green's straps, "The belt goes about your waist, and those two straps there buckle onto the rings, over your legs. If'n you need help with 'em, I've plenty of practice with that." You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly. You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered foreleg. Kasher fumbles with the straps, unable to do it with his one hand, "Could you please?" he whispers indicating his straps. Kassima shoos a fire-lizard or two away from her own seat on Lysseth's neck, buckling the riding straps with the ease that long familiarity with a task will bring. "When Lysseth launches," she cautions, "'twill nay be particularly smooth, I'll warn you now. Y'might want t'hang on tight with your good hand. Aye, certes." Turning back as much as the straps will allow, she secures the second set around Kasher's waist, snapping the supporting straps in place. "All right. That should do it. Are you ready?" Kasher grabs hold firmly of the straps, ready as he'll ever be he nods. Kassima nods and turns to face forward. "Then up we go," she replies, giving Lyss the signal to launch. <*> Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up dust as she takes to the skies. You fly up into the air. You soar back towards the Bitra Valley. You fly over the Central Bitran Valley. You descend to the Bitra Hold Courtyard. <*> Sot chuckles an' winks at the rider, "Evening Kassima" <*> Lysseth lands as gently as she can manage, the beating of her wings stirring up what snow hasn't already been trampled to flatness. "Here we are... kindly lower your head again, Lyss," she directs the dragon, who complies. "Are you all right? I hope your arm didn't get jostled terribly." Preoccupied as she is, the call of her name receives only an absent reply of, "Duties t'Bitra, her Lord, and her Lady," as the rider slides down to the ground. You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles, cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully. Sot chuckles softly and puffs on his pipe thoughtfully on his pipe as he watches the rider and passenger. High atop Lysseth, Kasher smiles weakly at the rider, indicating his straps again, "Thanks but could you help again?" his voice getting slowly more hoarse. Sot taps his pipe against his high-topped boot, "Here now, need a hand?" Seated on Lysseth's neckridges, Kasher nods slowly cradling his broken arm. Kassima grimaces apologetically. "Ach, a'course... forgive me." She steps back onto Lysseth's foreleg, which, since the dragon has her head lowered until it's resting on the ground, gives her sufficient height to reach up and unhook the straps. "There y'go... if'n you need help getting down, that's what I'm here for." Turning her head slightly, she explains to Sot, "Just bringing back another blizzard victim... he should be all right, but if'n you could let the folk inside know t'have something hot t'drink and the like ready, 'twould be most kind indeed. And he'll need a Healer, too." Kasher unbuckles himself from Lysseth's straps and climbs back down to the ground, looking a little disoriented from the flight. Sot nods and mumbles something about picking the perfect time to re-visit the old homestead, "I'll go speak to Kaira..." Sot enters the hold doors. Kasher steps down from the dragon, "Thank you Lysseth." he whispers, "Thank you Kassima." "Thankee, Sot," Kassi starts to say with honest gratitude, then sighs as she once again manages to miss. "Faranth preserve us," she mutters with faint amusement, "if'n I ever manage t'stop doing that." Lysseth turns her head to warble a low note to Kasher--a 'you're welcome,' perhaps. Kassi flashes him a rueful smile. "Like I said, lad... our duty and pleasure, but you're welcome. D'you need any further aid?" Sot comes out of the hold. Sot hikes a thumb over his shoulder as he trudges back outside, "Kaira's brewing up a fresh pot of klah now and one of the drudges went to wake the healer... they didn't take to kindly with me throwing around the orders like the old days, but they should be more willing to help the injured. You going to be alright son?" "I think I'll be okay now," Kasher smiles bowing slightly to both Kassima and the other man, "I'd better get myself into the hold though." Sot nods to the boy, and eyes Kassima for a second while scratching his chin. Kassima nods gratefully to the elder man. "Thankee, Sot. 'Tis most kind of you. If'n naught else is needed, I'd best be getting back to the Weyr t'make m'report, and calling in the rest of m'riders." To Kasher, she says with sincerity, "I hope your fortune proves better in the future, lad. Clear skies and the Weyr's duties t'you both." Kasher nods a parting farewell to Kassima and Lysseth, "So do I..." he manages to whisper. Sot smirks at Kassi, "You riders always off an' about... eh, well." He spins on a heel and nods to the lad, "I'm probably more confused in the hall than you are son, it's been a while since I've been back home... but the healer's quarters should be located on the second floor as they were back when..." Kassima snorts with amusement to Sot. "Hey, I've got a Wing t'lead drills for tomorrow, and Threadfall's never that far off. Cut me some slack!" Turning to mount her dragon, she calls back, "Fair be the winds, you two," a sentiment which is echoed by Lysseth's parting rumble. You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly. You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered foreleg. <*> Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up dust as she takes to the skies. You fly up into the air.