Chek
Weyrlingmaster
chekct[M:-15]
I'm so magical I vomit rainbows
Posts: 1,091
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Post by Chek on Jun 25, 2012 23:46:30 GMT -5
Damali watched in bemusement as the dolphineer closed up his house as requested – she had the feeling she’d need to come back out here after the worst of the crisis and apologize for…traumatizing? him. Metal shutters closed now, she wordlessly prompted Damask to return to their mission, but the soft sound of the shutters opening again had both wher and handler’s heads turning back.
The offering of the fish was gravely and eagerly accepted by Damask, but Damali was definitely going to have to come back and apologize.
That was all the delay allowed, however, and Damali and Damask turned back towards the likely locations where two bonded pairs had gone missing.
Damask relayed a message received from a dragon, prompting her handler to sigh and sag in place – Durene and Dusk, confirmed dead. Wherkills for sure, it sounded like. Rushing wings overhead had her straightening back to attention – a dragon winging in towards the dolphineer’s place. Good enough; the weyr was probably safer for the man than the hovel he called home, at least tonight.
It took them a while – faster than a pair with the human half walking would have made it, for sure, but still, it was a significant distance. Not to mention the movement out and about – more than once Damask growled a down a pair of glowing eyes in the bushes before they could continue on. “Queen’s prerogative,” Damali whispered to her red, mildly amused – and received a playful huff in return.
Any playfulness faded when they reached their destination – it wasn’t hard to find the remains of Morya and her brown. Damali dismounted and crouched down next to the mangled body of the brownhandler – she didn’t need to take the woman’s pulse to know she was dead. “Shards. Damask?”
Hovering protectively over her handler, Damask obligingly reached out towards the rest of the whers, Morsk, Morsk’s dead. Dead fast. Damask was intelligent enough to recognize that Morsk was killed before he could defend his handler without Damali having to say anything. She growled low and stuck close to her handler as Damali started crawling around, looking for any sign of the attacker.
“Sharding hells,” Damali said feelingly, a few minutes of searching later. Just a little ways from the bodies, in a bit of soft dirt under a scrubby bush, Damali found a print. A big print. “Damask. Come give me a print to compare this to.”
The red pressed a clawed foot into the soft dirt along side the mystery print, then leaned down to sniff at it – she jerked back with a loud snarl, eyes whirling back into furious red, Female. MONSTER.
Damali twitched faintly at the word, but could not find it in herself to disagree. as an icy chill crept up her spine The print was just as large as Damask’s, possibly a touch larger – and if her red said it was another female, that left really only two options for what was stirring up the island tonight and killing their handlers and whers. “Can you track her, Damask?”
The red sniffed around, her lips still pulled back from her teeth in a fierce snarl, and then froze a little ways away, Yessssss…
“Tell…Kalesk and Ausk only, for now. They’ll decide who to send.”
Damask, head low as she stared into the night, held perfectly still while her handler remounted, and told Ausk and Kalesk, as requested, Find trail, find print. Monster. Female. My print, same. Smaller? Maybe. Monster. Will track, watch. Find - wait; pride hunt. She growled over the part about waiting, wanting nothing more to rip, tear, shred the monster that dared touch what belonged to her. But her Damali was angry, cold angry, and Damask knew to listen.
“Let’s hunt, beautiful.”
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Alec
Wingrider
alecct[M:-360]
Cuteness abound!
Posts: 544
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Post by Alec on Jun 27, 2012 1:13:34 GMT -5
Zunusk had been running for a good while now, making it deep into the woods. He finally slowed down when he realized the dragon wasn't following him, and sniffed the air. There was nothing immediately nearby, but just to the west of him he caught the scent of several larger whers, along with the slightly familiar scent of Slosk not a great deal off.
No, there was too many big ones right there. The wind changed, blowing more from the northeast now, and he sniffed again. He growled in delight as he caught the freshly spilt blood. The desire to kill resurged inside of him, and he headed notheast in hopes that what he smelled was still there.
He came to the other bodies now, but continued on his way without more than a glance at them. They weren't what he was after. No, the blood he smelled was much fresher, and not tainted by water. The tail-less black headed more northward now, still following the scent. Now certain that it was ahead of him, Zunusk broke out into a run, heading straight for where Wrynri was fighting for his life.
---------
T'von couldn't take not doing anything anymore. At first he had felt that he would be more in the way than helpful, since Mor's eyesight was much worse than a wher's in the dark. But after seeing both Aylina and Wenth, then L'xon and Halventh go help in whatever way they could, he decided that there could be something for him to do as well. After all, it wasn't like he was gonna get much sleep tonight.
Grabbing his riding straps, he quickly fitted them to Mor and mounted his purple. Cloud attempted to join him, but T'von quickly ordered him to stay in their weyr. The two flew out, staying quite low to get a better view of everything. L'xon seemed to be trying to get a few candidates turned around, and Mor gave a whistle to Halventh as they flew past. The two could handle that simple task, so niether bothered to ask if they needed help.
Seeing there was nothing in the Weyr they could help out with, the two made it to the entrance before Missisk had made her foolhardy attack. Mor stopped briefly to make sure the handlers knew of his presence. Weyrlings T'von and Moruluth here to help. he told the group in general. He stayed in the air though, as he saw the eye-glow of five whers, but only saw the shapes of four people.
Seeing as the others weren't doing much to the other wher, he showed little concern over Slosk. I believe we are best useful flying around to spot what we can. We shall keep you informed of what we find. The last sentence was for Audren and Kalenna only, Mor just barely picking up the colors of the whers next to them to know who they were.
The pair headed eastward to see what they could find. Just a few minutes later, Moruluth spotted the brown wher attempting to scale the wall, just two blue-green dots against it's face to him. The purple didn't want to harm Dalsk, and T'von gave him a reassuring pat, since he didn't seem to have hurt anyone yet, but he kept his promise and quickly told the Alpha- and Betahandlers, not knowing the trouble that they were in.
We've spotted a wher that is trying to climb up the Weyr Wall. I'll try to get it down before it makes it inside. With that, Moruluth flew as close to the wall as he dared, and began reaching out to grab the brown and pluck him off. Hopefully he could do so without causing much harm, and he could drop it off a safe distance from the Weyr.
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kireon
Candidatemaster
kirct[M:-191]
Posts: 739
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Post by kireon on Jun 27, 2012 19:49:24 GMT -5
"Your memory must be faulty," Cilia commented brightly as her mind began planning a good route to take, where to start looking for casualties, and for the wild whers, first and foremost. "I don't think it was all of them, maybe half. The rest mysteriously joined them the following day, that's all." Their sense of humor during such a situation was rather questionable, but it was their way of putting off any potential fear or anxiety. Plus, Cilia enjoyed a good laugh, regardless of the situation and its appropriateness.
Besides, in this, she and Ciali would work together as a unit, as an unstoppable- for the most part- team as they had done often as children and while growing up as a whole. They would get back to bickering and competing with one another when the situation wasn't as dire. Ears sharp and senses on alert, the change in air and a wingbeat caught her attention as she halted mid-step, shielding her eyes with an arm in order to keep dust kicked up by the dragon's landing from blinding her. The trumpeting on the blue's end, unnecessary as it was, only earned him and his rider a rather unimpressed eyebrow raise and an unspoken, Really?
Lazily insterting a finger into her ear and tweaking it about to try and ease the ringing from the loudmouth dragon's bellow, a smile that didn't quite touch the woman's steely eyes formed on her lips as she responded to the man's well intentioned instruction. "This is a matter for the Wherhandlers, their whers, and anyone working to become a Wherhandler," Technically, she was outranked. But hey, rank had never been much of interest or concern in Cilia's eyes- particularly not when there was more interesting things to be done. "we've been trained specifically for instances like this, admittedly more for human against human opponents, but that's why she," her head jerked in Ciali's direction, "and I are out together. We're heading to meet up with the handlers and go out for casualty retrieval or transporation of the injured."
Removing the finger from her ear, she patted the pommel of one dagger at her side fondly before gesturing to the armor. "This, is safety for a just-in-case scenario. Expect the unexpected, be prepared; exactly as Pridesecond Damali instructed. She wanted us prepared and ready to go- wherless or with wher if a situation ever arose." Another pause, her expression and tone returning to serious. "If you and handsome there want to help, look for people who need evacuating- people who aren't armed and outfitted for a potential wild wher encounter. The longer you waste your time here with us, the less time any injured or fighting have left to survive. Help us by going to help them, wingrider, like we've seen a couple others flying off to do."
Hopefully he'd get the hint, it was their duty to defend the weyr just the same as it was his- they just had to use their own methods on the ground as he would in the sky.
**
Her clutch-sib's voice distracted her, a pause as she relayed the messages to Aylina. Halventh had spoken first, yes,he had, so she would talk to him first. Hello Halventh, there is trouble... yes... there is... we need to get the fish humans to the Weyr, yes... we do... they are in trouble, there are bad whers, yes... there are...[/i] Wenth informed her blue brother gravely, eyes whirrling as the door opened. She paused, Aylina nudging her silently to call out to the other firefinders, or to other dragons as a whole if they were willing to help too. She didn't know what to say and worried over it until Aylina gently took the lead, sending the message through Wenth, albeit awkwardly because she didn't want to step on anyone's toes. Firefinders, Wingriders an' anyone else awake at this hour; we've got a situation goin' on, wild whers are attackin' th' Weyr an' those livin' round it. Anyone who can help in any way, that'd be mighty kind of ya, an' I'm sure the handlers would mighty 'ppreciate it too.[/i]
Shipfish friend came out, maybe he would teach her to talk to the shipfish and be friends too, she liked making friends... yes, she did... and he looked friendly, if a little confused... yes, he did... but she would help him not be confused too. Or, rather, AylinaPretty would, she was watching for the bad whers. Deciding he would need to be greeted, Wenth cocked her head in Ekuda's direction a little, giving a bit of a head bobble and a sweet natured chirp of greeting in his direction.
"Wild whers, sir, got nothin' much other than that, I think there's been casualties though, that's why they're wantin' e'eryone in the safety of th' weyr." An honest answer, her eyes narrowing a little. He was part of the craft, if not a bit more important, and she was not gonna sit an' argue with a young man an' old men over who's more important t'get out. She gave him an amused look at the quickly corrected statement and nodded. "Wenth," she addressed the dragon quickly, the blinking, glowing eyes turning to her pink haired rider. "guard 'im while I'm gettin' the others ready, just as we practiced." Keep an eye out, if somethin' ain't right, get him to the Weyr, alright?
The pale tan bobbed her head in an imitation of a nod, turning to follow docile-like behind Ekuda as Aylina turned and jogged over to the figure pointed out to her, giving what she thought was a comforting croon to the male human. She wasn't able to see as well in the dark as the whers, but she could still see better than AylinaPretty and Shipfish Friend. AylinaPretty could use some help getting the fish-catchers to the Weyr,[/i] she told Halventh and Moruluth, and everyone else she could reach in the Firefinders class, and even a few outside of it that she could remember. we can do that much, yes... we can, even if it's dark... we can still help.[/i]
** Fssssk had heard all sorts of things. They had scared away Fssssk's prey, Fssssl was not happy. Dinner lost. Dinner got away. Not Fssssk fault, other. Others at fault. Others pay for making Fssssk hungry. His eyes flashed red, jaws parting to reveal sharp teeth as his tail lashed. Snarling and growling to himself, the jagged, spikey hided wher skulked through the forest, stumbling upon the remains of two-leg and petwher. His snarled, attacking the body of the wher. UP. YOU FIGHT FSSSSK. YOU FIGHT. He roared at it, and at the two leg. YOU NO SLEEP. FIGHT NOW. FIGHT FSSSSK. Maybe biting two-leg would work. He chomped down, spitting it out with a growl. Dead. He bit down on the black's tail, chewing a moment before he spat that out too. Also dead.
Red dead. Red killed, made dead. Fssssk no wanted dead. Wanted hot blood. Live blood. Fssssk wait and hunt any coming for this. His kills, he decided. Red left, kills became Fssssk's. He growled, slinking clumsily backwards, crouching down behind some of the deadfall closest to the edge of the forest. He wait. He patient for prey. He attack, eat good that night. Stupid red not scare off this prey.
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Post by larkwing on Jun 27, 2012 23:21:54 GMT -5
Mine, MINE, MIIIINNNNEEE! THERE ARE THINGS ATTACKING THE WEYR MINE AND THEY'RE IN LEAGUE WITH THE MINI-DRAGONS I JUST KNOW IT!!!!
Laelia abruptly took her pillow and threw it at the bulk that was no doubt Anibrith, muttering something about crazy greens, and then turning over and then going back to sleep. Snorting, the bright hued green nudged her rider until she was literally tumbling from the dragon's bed where she had curled up asleep on after talking to her lifemate. "Hey!" Rubbing her now sore leg, the weyrling blew her bangs from her eyes and looked at her dragon in what she hoped was a very disapproving manner.
But Miiiine, there are things attacking the Weyr and Wenth says to go help and Moruluth is there and...
"Wait what?!?!" Laelia froze as she heard the purple's name cross her mind, instant worry for the dragon and his rider coursing through her thoughts. They are fine, they are looking from the sky, we should go too. Now, now! The dragoness fluttered her wings, her tail snaking to and frow behind her as she urged Hers to throw on something a bit more than her night clothes and get them ready to leave. In his tub of water Mime gurgled a curious note, but Laelia shook her head and sent a definite message for him and Belle to stay put. Get in contact with Went and Moruluth, find out what's going on.
But she did say what's going on she said.....oh.....oh darn, what did she say now....ummmr.....OH YES THERE ARE THESE THINGS...I think they were called widgets...no...ummmr.....waffles....no....WHERS! They're called WHERS! They're attacking the Weyr and we need to help do something....ummmr....PurpleBrotherofMine is watching from the sky, yes that's what he's doing, let's go too!
Sounds good to me.... Laelia bit her lip though, fear setting in as she was torn between wanting to help, knowing that it was her duty to, and yet terrified of someone getting hurt. All the more reason for us to be there Mine. Don't worry, we'll be fine. Those evil Wher-things won't get away with this, and then I'm going to have a stern talking to with GreenOne about leaving them out of her evil plans of taking over Pern with her other minions. The dragoness took wing as she spoke, searching the ground as much as she couldn't see, the minimum light giving her almost nothing and yet she could barely make out movement below.
At least a large shape hovering near the Weyr was noticeable. Moruluth! Mine and I have come to help.....uh...how do we help?
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Lan
Weyrlingmaster
lanct[M:-1025]
Nomming ALL the kidpets!
Posts: 1,266
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Post by Lan on Jun 28, 2012 17:08:46 GMT -5
Xsssk noticed Wrynsk coming only when it was too late. He had already built up too much momentum. He smacked into her with a crack, sending her sideways and backwards as she hissed sickeningly. She reached out to slash at the brown with her claws before she swiftly retreated to a safer distance, staring the brown wher down. Her ribs ached where they were bruised from the encounter. The pain fueled her ire. She prepared to attack again, hissing and snarling as she scraped at the ground with her claws in an intimidation display. The brown was far larger than her, but she was Xsssk! She was a warrior!
The blue Slhhssk then descended upon them. Xsssk shrieked, scraping at the blue's hide as he passed by and likewise scratched at her. Ichor now drained from her shoulder, her front legs, her nose. Her ribs ached from being barreled into by the larger Wrynsk. But she could take them! She was Xsssk! Warrior Xsssk! She had held her ground for ages now and she was not about to go down that easily. She hissed at both of them, the three-way battle sounding glorious to her bloodthirsty mind.
Then a bronze appeared. Xsssk heard his growl and smelled his coming and roared at him in return. Now it was getting too hot. A blue, she could take. A brown, she could take. But a blue, a brown, and a bronze? She was out of there. The green took off, tearing back into the shadows of the forest. From there she stalked toward where Lauriesk and her handler were waiting in ambush.
Camea smiled at her friend, glad to have company. She nodded, feeling a sense of duty despite her usual selfish attitude. They must not let them in. "Let's go." She grabbed Kire's hand and gripped it with a squeeze, then dropped it immediately and took off at a run. Cask jogged along at her heels, barking every so often to make sure others knew something important was going on. Soon they came to the entrance and Camea and Cask stood, awaiting orders. Until she was told where to go she would help hold the entrance. Darryl, meanwhile, had joined her as well, Dask hissing out into the darkness. He waited, holding the entrance. With Dask's eyes he scanned for any hostiles.
Lonet breathed a sigh of relief as she saw a girl running down with more supplies. She waved her over, then gave a sharp whistle to make sure her position was known. As Ondine came within earshot Lonet stood from where she had been making preparations and rose to greet her. "Thanks for coming. I'm Lonet, Journeywoman Weyrhealer. No one's come in yet, but it's only a matter of time." She sighed and looked out toward the mouth of the Weyr. "Losk will tell us if there's any trouble." The woman gestured for Ondine to unload her supplies in the same orderly fashion she had already set up what she had brought. After that was done, she picked up the amputation saw and noted aloud, "Best keep a weapon about you, girl. Whers can be awfully slippery in the dark."
NO KILL. Physisk snarled as the gurgling green made her way to where Physicero and the other handlers were standing. Physicero turned on heel, drawing his knife in preparation for a fight. Physisk met her first, though. As Missisk made contact with him he bore his claws at her, jaws going for the jugular as he used his greater weight to try to knock her backward and pin her to the ground.
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Ondine
Jr. Weyrleader
ondct[M:-155]
Posts: 436
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Post by Ondine on Jun 30, 2012 4:08:22 GMT -5
Ciali laughed at Cilia's response, amused by her sister's recollection. Things were always better when the two of them had each other's back. Rivals were best to team up with, because if they were your rival, they had the skills to match yours, or else you demeaned yourself by calling them a rival. And her sister was, quite simply, the best rival she'd ever found. Give it until this was over and they'd be back to the same old fighting as always. But that was later, and this was now. They always knew when to shut up and get serious.
And because she was serious, she heard the wings before the dragon came into sight, shielding her eyes from the abrupt spray of dust. At the words, however, she wanted to roll her eyes. The one time they were actually helping out the Weyr, and someone had to take offense and play all heroic dragonrider on them. Instead, she chuckled, a sound without humor. "Even if we were to help out the healers, we'd want armor on," she pointed out, "And weapons, in case trouble got past all of the guards. I'll bet that the healers themselves have weapons, or at least converted tools that will serve."
But really, it was annoying that they were here instead out of there, actually helping. She shrugged. "You can always ask Pridesecond Damali what she wants us to do, that would solve your problem. But she might be busy, and it'd be easier if we just went out and helped," she said, reasonably. She didn't want to be reasonable. She wanted to rap the damn Blue on the nose, but that never got her anywhere, but into trouble. And while trouble was always fun when she was bored, this wasn't the night for it.
-----
Ondine was relieved when she saw the woman waving and then whistling at her, altering course to bring her to the Weyrhealer. A new woman, or at least one she didn't recognize yet. And one with a Wher, evidently. She smiled as she moved to set her packs on the ground and start organizing the contents, but it was a little strained. "I'm Ondine, apprentice healer of seven years, dragonhealer. Nice to meet you." She glanced towards the Weyr entrance, noting how close they were, grateful for the guard.
But that she was being told to grab a weapon made her frown. She didn't like weapons, didn't like fighting. As she frowned, Dilath walked up, having stayed at the infirmary to have larger and bulkier equipment strapped her to. As the dragonet moved into the light, she spoke to Hers. I will be your guard and your weapon if there is need.
The healer blinked at her dragon, momentarily speechless even as she started to unbind the few tables on her back. She spoke to Lonet, a bit distracted, "And this is my dragon, Dilath. We're Snowstealers, Junior Weyrlings." Are you sure? I know how much you hate violence.
The Pink shook her head, fixing Hers with a stare. Even if Ondine was so intelligent, sometimes she needed a bit of explaining about the way the world worked. Violence is the worst thing under Rukbat. Self-defense can be honorable, if not pushed too far. I will remain in the light, and I will be your guard.
The Weyrling smiled slightly, giving her dragon a mental kiss as she spoke to Lonet. "Dilath here wants to guard us, unless you had a better idea for what she can do."
-----
Lyrnn swore. The few seconds that the Green had been clear for a shot were seconds in which it wasn't clear if the Wher was aggressive or not. Attacking that many Whers, Ausk and the Gold especially, was suicide. And now the other Blue was in the way, and there was no clear shot. Lyrsk moved swiftly, streaking down from the Weyr entrance like a blue arrow, staying out of his handler's line of firing. He'd take the Wher if the moment presented itself.
The handler, on the other hand, steadied himself for a shot, dropping into a marksman crouch as he calculated the distance and wind, drawing his crossbow and arming it. If a clear shot presented itself, he'd take it. If not, there was no way that he'd accidentally shoot one of the Pride's Whers. But if the Green tried to get room in the fight, she'd get a bolt in the side for her troubles.
------
Dalsk was too busy climbing the wall of the Weyr to really notice the dragon coming up on him until he heard the rush of air. Then it was obvious that there was a dragon coming for him. His blue and green eyes bled into a mix with yellow, alarm as he realized that this dragon didn't want him climbing higher. But those he needed to love were inside! He needed to go! Yes he did. Those at the front of the Weyr were scary and angry. But those inside might be scared and needed love!
Maybe this dragon needed some love and kindness?
With that in mind, he let himself get caught, not struggling as the color in his eyes bled back towards blue and green. He was making someone happier! Yes, he had done good this fine night! He practically beamed with simple happiness, even though the flight was a bit scary!
But then he looked down, and saw and smelled blood and Ichor. Someone was hurt down there. He twisted and struggled, making hissing sounds, trying to communicate that they needed to get down! Blood was no way to make the night happier! It was pain. And while food was good, food was not Wher, or two-legged, or Dragon. Dalsk knew this for truth! And besides, he brought food into a large community of other food that had passed through him, and that food could live together and be happy. But two-legged and others would not be happy inside of him.
It'd be best to help that two-legged down below, but how to get the dragon to get them down there? Oh dear, this night wasn't one for happiness so far, he'd have to work extra hard later!
And then bring more food into the family of food that he'd eaten before. Yes, that was for the best.
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Post by purnip on Jun 30, 2012 19:44:25 GMT -5
Wrynri's emotions were swept in a rollercoaster of rage and fear. Between his instinctual desires to run far and fast and his wher's desire to finish off the attacker, he only stood planted on both feet, heart racing a mile a minute. He knew he was useless. It would have been better if he took advantage of this opportunity to climb a tree or something, but he wasn't dexterous enough to make it there in a pinch. The Green would surely target him before he made it up a foot or two. Once the Blue appeared, he went a shade paler than usual. This just wasn't fair. They were being ambushed. At first he started to think Slhhssk was one of their own after he focused an attack on Xsssk, but he simply didn't look familiar. Not in the slightest.
Where the hell was Keely?
In the end, if he managed to survive all this, Wrynri was going to chew him out big time. They were supposed to be scouting together. If Wrynsk could hold off these two, Keelsk could have gone looking for help. This could be part of a bigger ambush. It was a miracle in itself so far that Wrynri was still alive. Had that Blue gone for him instead, Wrynsk wouldn't have been able to stop it.
The Brown wasn't much of a fighter. He wasn't a seasoned warrior no matter how one sliced it. His movements were clumsy and hesitant, and at times too chaotic or haphazard. He was fighting solely on emotional fuel, peaceful on a regular basis. He might have held of Xsssk for while but if Slhhssk sided against him as well, he wasn't going to stand a chance. He focused his rage on the Green, though after he was swept at by the oncoming Blue, he merely kept an errant eye on him in case he went for Wrynri. The Green was fast and difficult to peg a second time, and his preference in battle was far more defensive than anything else.
When the Bronze arrived and the Green split, Wrynri and Wrynsk felt themselves a little less helpless and a little more energized. The Brown chased after the Green, and his handler was suddenly left startled behind, trying to find maybe some place to duck into like a bush or something while the Bronze distracted Slhhssk. He barely recognized the newcomer but the fact that he vaguely remembered that hide at all helped a whole lot. He knew that he was on their side. Hopefully Wrynsk would come back--not chase after that Green until Faranth knows where she leads him. Come back, he called. Protect me. She could be leading you into another ambush.
No response, but he had a feeling that the message was received and understood. Now to wait. He crouched behind some bushes as calmly and automatically as possible. If he was spotted, at least whers gave a bit of a tell before they pounced on unmoving prey...
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Post by Frangipani on Jul 1, 2012 2:40:52 GMT -5
Lachan breathed a small sigh of relief when the Green took off into the night, however he could not help feeling anxious as the brown followed suit. Still, that left one on one he supposed. He looked around for the other handler who seemed to have disappeared from view during the time in which Lachan was busy following the Green’s progress. He only hoped the other handler was safe and out of the sight of the blue. He stared at it and stood slightly behind Lachask as the bronze continued his snarling. Be careful. Lachask didn’t look back at his handler but he did speak, a derisive snort coming over the mindlink. Spoke Lachan, need not. Lachask stronger. Always careful, said Lachask. Despite this, Lachask kept a keen eye on the blue as he approached it before suddenly lunging with a loud growl, his wings flapping a few times and pushing him into the air in an attempted display of impressive strength and size. Left twolegs alone Blue, Lachask shouted! Lachan alone, shouted Lachask!! The bronze screamed into the night as loudly and angrily as he could muster, swiping viciously at the blue’s face as he bared his teeth.
Lachan shrank back a little mentally, still hiding behind the wher although physically attempted to stand his ground. This was, after all, his duty to his new home. And what kind of guard would he prove to be in the future if he turned and ran now? In his nine years of companionship with the bronze he had never seen Lachask more angry and vicious. Perhaps it was simply because there had not been the need or opportunity thus far to see him in this capacity and against this kind of a threat. In the moment however, he felt Lachask’s surge of anger at his new home being threatened coupled with his own fear at both the anger displayed by the bronze and the intrusion of the horde of whers. He glanced around again, looking for the brown handler and spied him behind some bushes. Evidently this was not quite how he wished to spend his night. Not wanting to alert the wild to the brown’s presence however, Lachan’s eyes deliberately passed straight over him, scanning the dark horizon as best he could for any further threats.
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Jul 1, 2012 16:44:53 GMT -5
"You don't answer to a Pridesecond if you don't have a wher," L'xon replied with a shake of his blond head. A spark of annoyance set his jaw at the tone both women used, but he was not sure if the feeling came from him or Halventh. As the dragon's mind wriggled eel-like around the notion that these two were Candidates still, L'xon decided to blame him and relaxed. "This is for your own safe-" Halventh wrenched his elongate head around almost completely backward, bringing his neck with him and leaving L'xon blocked from view by its muscular curve. Halventh?!
Wenth is calling. The blue crooned at the Weyr's entrance, then snapped his head back around to face the sisters. His nostrils puffed and he blew a snort of sweet dragon-breath over their heads, then he clacked his jaws in a sound reminiscent of a chitter, or cackle, his eyes boiling green. He lurched his weight onto all fours and performed a swift half-turn, then took off. After a few seconds, L'xon realized Halventh had sent a missive elsewhere during that moment of motion, and grimaced back down at Ciali and Cilia as Halventh's wings volleyed them out the Weyr entrance.
The Weyrling dragon's voice had tickled a particular mind at first, just in case she had somehow slept through the night's introductory horrors: Waroth~ Waroth~ Two of your Candidates are running for the forest! They're so fast- I can't- blargh! They overpowered me! I couldn't stop them, Waroth, your Candidates...trying to escape... Please, leave me behind, and save them... I'm...sor....ry... After that, Halventh's facets dulled to a yellow-green. Even their luminescence diminished.
We've not flown at night before, he warned, but to little effect. Halventh was making a beeline toward Wenth. Didn't she say it was Aylina who needed help? The blue slowed up into a hover, grumbling to himself as he searched the harbor. He fluttered closer to the fishermens' cots, then set down in the nearest clearing and ambled up the pathway to the silhouette of Aylina. He honked a greeting at her, then looked to his right at a couple old fisherfolk trying to approach his side. Halventh stared at them, then jerked his body sideways to avoid their attempts to mount up his arm and bugled.
"Halventh!" The blue crouched back down to the path, L'xon still gripping his neckridge tightly. "I apologize. He will behave. Aylina, we're here to, uh, help." Halventh groaned, but stuck out his leg.
---
"It's nice that she left me my very own dragon," Ekuda said to Wenth as he sat down at the base of the dock. He had rung the dolphin's bell three times, informing any cetacean who heard to report to the dock. Problem was, dolphins did not officially take duties at night, and they might be out to sea, or on the other side of the island. After a few minutes' waiting, it was starting to seem like that might be the case. He looked over at the tan as he sat cross-legged beside her, and patted his hand against his bony chest. "You know, I see a wild wher quite frequently and I never get into a fuss about it." He looked back out to the ocean. "Mostly..."
After another couple minutes, Ekuda continued: "Really big one too. Stinks something fierce. I think I can smell it right now actually...but I'm sure it won't eat me with you here, my love." He smiled at the dragon.
"I'm here! I heard!" a thin, high voice called from the end of the dock, and then a dolphin with black patches ahead of his eyes nosed into view. He was completely out of breath. Ekuda raised his eyebrows.
"Well thank you for your obsession, Cray."
"Huh?" The dolphin thrashed his tail, lifting himself and surveying left and right around the docks. "Report!" he said, but it sounded more like a command than an acknowledgment. "What's going on?" He finally noticed Wenth and fell back into the water a stroke or two, then poked up again. "What is that?"
"Who is that," Ekuda corrected with a pressing of his lips. "And that is..." His eyes widened. The woman had told him when she arrived. He glanced at the dragon, then back at Cray. A wispy sigh arose from the bottlenose. "That is...that is a dragon." Ekuda pointed both forefingers at Wenth. "You know what those are," he admonished the dolphin. "And she is guarding me. From wild whers. And I know it's a she because she isn't a brown. She's a tan. And I know that. With my mind." He pointed at his head.
"Eksy is a genius-" Cray started with a toss of his head, then abruptly he ducked out of view below the water. "Ah!" he exclaimed when he popped back up. Ekuda pulled his knees in closer to his chest and inched closer to Wenth.
"What? Is something eating you!"
"No," the dolphin squealed. "Blood in the water. Man's blood."
"From where?" Ekuda murmured, no more comforted by this answer. He thought of that tall dragonrider. Cray took up a mouthful of water, then spit it out and squealed again, this time in his own species' language. Ekuda tilted his head. "Didn't catch all of that."
"Wher too." Cray goggled at the dragon at the end of the dock, then turned south. "River, maybe. Lot of blood, to come this far. I have to follow it." He waited a moment, then looked back at Ekuda. The dolphineer was still squished up close to Wenth.
"...what? I'm in my robe!" Ekuda complained. The dolphin buzzed a few dolphinese words before he dove and began heading for the river delta past the harbor. "Sorry," the man said a bit more meekly once his partner was out of earshot. "Don't go too close to the shore..."
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Cathaline
Lady Holder
cathct[M:50]
Posts: 3,279
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Post by Cathaline on Jul 2, 2012 15:25:04 GMT -5
As Damali prepared to leave, Kalenna ran through the patrol schedule in her mind. "Morya was on with Geoff, they were replaced by Obelir and Lenir, so there's trouble in the east," she told the redhandler. A slight touch of her mind to her gold's had Kalesk searching, searching, pushing the range of her telepathy wide until she found those she hunted. To Obelisk and Geosk, she said, Morsk gone. Lesk gone. Where?[/i] Most likely, though, they had no idea. Geoff and Morya had probably separated once they were off shift for some reason instead of walking back to the Bowl together; Obelir and Lenir likely hadn't been sticking too close as they worked, since they had so much ground to cover. To Ausk, the gold said, Geosk, Obelisk live.[/i] For now. They were or had been right down where the enemy made her hunt.
Kalenna itched with frustration as reports continued to come in, occasionally very disjointed, from around the Weyr. The wilds were roused, but of the grave danger that had already slain three of their number, there was no sign.
She frowned at the communication from Moruluth, however, and nudged Kalesk to speak to the purple. Weyr-ling bad,[/i] she said, the word unfamiliar in her mind. Weyr-ling go in![/i] Regardless of how senior he and any other weyrlings were, they were still weyrlings. This was not a task for those still learning, and if she'd had wherlings now, she would've said the exact same thing to them. At her handler's instigation, Kalesk finished, Weyr-ling - all weyr-ling - go in, wait in. We bring hurt. You carry hurt.[/i] That was a far better task for them than risking themselves and their young dragons against wild whers, and Kalesk gave a snort and headshake of disgust at the idea of dragons trying to take on whers in the first place. This was her job, her duty! And she chafed against the restrictions, even as she - and more so, Kalenna - understood why they could not follow Damali, or get into any kind of trouble. Kalesk was Dalibor's future.
The gold then relayed to both weyrlingmasters the fact that certain of their charges were wandering around causing trouble - in her mind, they were, anyway, and they were definitely in the way up there in the sky - and began to pace. A snarl erupted from her throat when the green attacked, and her powerful muscles trembled as Kalenna's firm grip on her mind kept her from throwing herself into the fray. She could have crushed that tiny intruder like that, but even a green carried a risk of fatally harming the gold, and this could not be.
Speaking of golds...where was Ridan? Kalenna could think of a dozen places the other betahandler might be useful, and she forced Kalesk's attention from the fight. Risk. Where be?[/i] To Audren, Kalenna asked, "Should I go find Ridan? And perhaps Kalesk and I would be better stationed elsewhere." Her knife was in her hand, unnecessarily - there was no chance of her getting in a swipe at anything that threatened her, not with Kalesk here. But there were too many threats. Kalenna was no coward and Kalesk was desperate to involve herself, but it was just too dangerous.
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Alec
Wingrider
alecct[M:-360]
Cuteness abound!
Posts: 544
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Post by Alec on Jul 2, 2012 18:48:57 GMT -5
Moruluth was having a little bit of trouble at first at trying to grab the wher. Every time he got close enough to reach him, his wings would threaten to hit on the walls. He finally managed, though, and grabbed the brown tightly, but gently. The brown was unusually calm for being captured, but it was a good thing.
Moruluth heard the message from Kalesk, but it wasn't like he could just drop the brown off where he was at. Ok, well, I currently have a wher in my paws that was trying to climb the wall, but if someone can be sent to see about him, I will drop him off somewhere so he can be dealt with.
He greeted his sister with a croon. Oh, hello Ani. Kalesk just told us to head back in the Weyr. I have to put this wher somewhere, and we'll join you shortly. He then felt for his other siblings that were out tonight. Halventh, Wenth. You both should go back in now as well. Kalesk's orders.
He then took the brown and went over to a ledge and released him nearby a wherpair. After that had been done, he dropped down to do as Kalesk had asked, ready and waiting to transport any injured if need be.
------------
Zunusk growled happily as first the green, then the brown took of out sight. That left the bronze and the blue, along with the humans. Now he had a chance to actually stand a chance against them. He assessed the situation at hand now. The bronze was much bigger than he was, and virtually uninjured. But the blue was covered in wounds.
So he slinked up behind the blue until he was close enough behind them, then with a hiss jumped onto his back, clawing down it's length. He then jumped off to face the other. He was positioned to where he could keep an eye on the bronze and his handler. They weren't his target, though. No, the ble was his target, so most of his attention went to him. Facing the blue, he tensed his body for another attack, still managing to keep Lachan and Lachask in his line of vision.
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Lan
Weyrlingmaster
lanct[M:-1025]
Nomming ALL the kidpets!
Posts: 1,266
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Post by Lan on Jul 2, 2012 19:37:43 GMT -5
"Ondine. Pleasure, sugar." Lonet smiled at her. Seven years? Well, the girl's dedication should certainly make her a journeyman in the next couple of turns. Especially if she could get out in the middle of the night that quickly. Shortly, though, a pink dragon was ambling toward them. Lonet froze, her eyes glued on the pink. She was still a young thing, her head barely standing higher than her rider's. She was younger than Elath had been when... no, no, no. There was no time to think of that now. She turned her back to the affair, looking outward toward where Losk had been joined by some of the other whers to help hold the entrance. Her mind brushed against his lovingly, checking on the status of the front.
"And this is my dragon, Dilath. We're Snowstealers, Junior Weyrlings." Lonet looked over her shoulder and nodded with a wide smile, but kept looking the other direction. "Dilath here wants to guard us, unless you had a better idea for what she can do." Her eyes closed and she gave a sigh. She didn't want to put the pink in harm's way... but if Lonet was endangering her rider it would seem unfair to keep Dilath away.
Gold. Say little things go. Little things go in. Lonet pressed her mind against Losk's to hear the actual message. Weyr-ling - all weyr-ling - go in, wait in. We bring hurt. You carry hurt. Weyrlings were supposed to go in, weyrlings like Ondine. The weyrhealer bit her lip, then turned around and looked at both Ondine and Dilath. They were technically inside the Bowl, so they should be out of any real danger.
"Fair enough, Ondine... Dilath," Lonet nodded at both of them, her eyes not lingering over the pink for very long, "But stay close and leave when I tell you to, got it? No ifs, ands, or buts." She knelt down and began to prepare a redwort solution for the wounded that would be coming in.
Waroth~ Waroth~ Two of your Candidates are running for the forest! They're so fast- I can't- blargh! They overpowered me! I couldn't stop them, Waroth, your Candidates...trying to escape... Please, leave me behind, and save them... I'm...sor....ry... Up toward the top of the north rim the red stirred on the ledge she had claimed as her own. Stupid hatchling. Overwhelmed by a couple of two-leggeds? She growled, opening one eye to peer over the ledge at the Bowl. The matters that were better left to whers hardly concerned her. It shouldn't be her issue. Wher candidates were Ausk's problem, not hers. But Halventh had chosen to bespeak her. He had chosen to wake her up. Whether or not they wanted it, she would be involved now.
The scarlet queen rose, shaking herself and stretching her wings as she rid herself of the last groggy feelings. She snarled, then, her nose wrinkling into an ugly grimace. Get back inside, whelp; was her reply to Halventh, Don't make me ask you twice. The threat was there, despite it being less obviously phrased than it would be if she were less tired. She would do something about it if he disobeyed.
By this time Nimara had woken up and made her way to her dragon, overseeing what was going on. Wild whers. Whers are handling it. Candidates trying to help. Weyrlings too. Waroth's mindvoice was grumpy. This was not her job. She shouldn't have to babysit weyrlings and wher candidates. That was a Weyrlingmaster or a Wher Candidatemaster's job. But, since they seemed to be sleeping in, here was Waroth taking charge... like always. Nimara listened and nodded. Well, this was a sticky situation... but she couldn't let any sort of candidates out on a night like this. She quickly dawned her riding gear and hopped aboard, guiding Waroth to land on the rim closer to the Bowl entrance.
Candidates... do NOT leave the Bowl! Waroth addressed them at Nimara's urgings, Find a wherhandler in the Bowl and help that way. If you leave, I will find you. She sat on the rim, overseeing the weyrlings that were out. With a snarl, she addressed all of the weyrlings outside of the Bowl, her fury contained like a white-hot fire in every syllable.
GET. INSIDE. NOW.
Having no idea Kalesk had already ordered them inside, Waroth stood posed to go and forcibly drag back any who disobeyed. Nimara sat between her shoulders, a weight heavy on her chest. What were these kids thinking? Didn't they realize that weyrlings had died doing less? They would need a stern talking to! She made a mental note to not only address them in person when they came, but to talk to their Weyrlingmaster as well.
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Reky
Alphahandler
rekyct[M:-999]
SO PRO
Posts: 1,554
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Post by Reky on Jul 2, 2012 21:03:46 GMT -5
Audren kept her due distance from Ausk. The red prowled and roared and gnashed her terrible teeth in a wide perimeter around the humans, itching to taste ichor and to prove her strength. They had only just arrived to their marker when Ausk spotted something in the darkness. Silhouetted against the bloody brightness of that night's sky was a gnarled and monstrous beast, trotting and shaking and bellowing. Ausk's heart leapt and so did Audren's, but the red was let down. She had thought that this would be the beginning of it, but it was not.
It was Slosk. Slosk belonged to her. She, perhaps, did not remember any affection for him - any tenderness or sentiment. He had fathered her children but that meant nothing beyond her possession of him. Though the iron towered over her, she looked upon him as worthless. Run yet? she had understood. HOW DARE, she screamed to him. She held her human language over him like a royal scepter; she was better than him. She was superior. He was nothing. NO FIGHT. HOW DARE, NO FIGHT. NO RUN. Slosk was not a threat. He did not come to take the Weyr or take a life. He just came to display his stupidity, and she had no time for that. She approached him and bared her glistening fangs. Then, she opened her great, powerful jaws and let out a thunderous roar. She stepped towards him, still bellowing. Her wings flared. She would drive him off.
Audren was startled by Ausk's reaction; she had expected immediate bloodshed and was taken aback that there was none. She turned her attention Damali's departure and nodded, though, because there was no time to wonder about a red. "Thank you," she said, and internally wished that the Faranth guide them. There was a final break in Ausk's concentrated screaming and she left Slosk to leave. He wasn't worth anymore time. Snarling, she barreled towards Missisk instead.
Audren received word from Damask through Ausk, and from Moruluth. "Weyrlings--" she started and gritted her teeth, but Kalesk had taken care of it. She felt a pang of dread -- would she have an injured weyrling on her head? Maimed, killed? But again, there was no time. She had to focus on the now, and the weyrlings were headstrong and out of her jurisdiction.
"No," she told Kalenna. "No, he's a big boy. I'll send him to back up Damali. We'll stay here." It was the best tactical point for them right now. Kalesk - the precious commodity she was - was protected by a bronze, a red, and a blue, and Audren could see the coast, the forest's edge, and the weyrbowl. She wanted so badly to be atop a dragon right now and to be given an aerial view, but her place was with her people.
Ausk was on top of Missisk with Physisk, her teeth deep in the green's tail, but Audren stole a piece of her mind. She bespoke her other betahandler first. Ridan, I want you to find Damali immediately. Damask is tracking something and needs backup. Then, to Damali and Damask, Ridan and Risk are on their way. Be careful until they arrive. Then Audren released the red and Ausk howled in frustration. She remembered the taste of the thick green ichor on her tongue, though, and was consoled.
---
Slhhssk howled in pain. Zunusk had caught him unaware; he had been distracted first by Xsssk's cowardice and then by Lachask's arrival. He had been prepared to take on the bronze. He had laughed in Lachask's face, even, his jaw cocked out to the side and dripping. How great would he be to take down a bronze? He would be the best! His plan would be fabulous! He would be the ultimate trickster -- a god among whers!
But it was not to be. Zunusk had found him and jumped him. He felt the blacks nasty, tiny, tricksy little claws in his back and something was wrong. His wing felt numb. Or, perhaps, he didn't feel it at all, and it was gone. He felt suddenly quite cold and wet, and dark green ichor spewed from his wounds. Slhhssk slurped and drooled. His plan -- his plan for fun was failing? He laughed again, perhaps at his own stupidity, or perhaps to convince himself that he could still win. The noise ripped high and shrill in the night, and he threw himself at Lachask with Zunusk still on his back.
All the while, he was cackling. [/blockquote]
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Post by Frangipani on Jul 3, 2012 4:29:08 GMT -5
Lachan watched as yet another wher, black this time, appeared out of nowhere and he groaned inwardly. It appeared to have more of an interest in the blue, however this did not relieve the tension. He and his bronze watched as the newcomer hitched a ride on the blue’s back and the blue turn towards them, throwing both of the wild whers towards them. Lachan steeled himself as Lachask dug his feet into the ground, mind racing as to what he could do. They came closer and the bronze suddenly sidestepped the attack before turning in a flash and dismembering the blue’s jaw with an almighty swipe. He recoiled a little from the impact but did not wait for much longer before lunging towards the wild again and sinking his teeth deep into the blue’s throat. Ichor. Its smell was intoxicating. A growl began rumbling deep within his throat before it ripped from his throat and echoed into the night as he eyed the Zunusk, body of the blue falling limp at the bronze’s feet. BlackWild ran, shouted Lachask. RAN! Black ended like Blue!! He snarled, claws digging into the dirt as his eyed glinted dangerously, his jaw dripping with the blood of the blue.
Lachan had been shocked by the vicious attack of his bronze, and he was hard put not to find something to kill as well. He felt himself trembling with the anger of his wher, and with the immense amount of effort it took to control himself. The only other time he had felt the wher’s emotions so close to overwhelming him was before he had won a chase at High Reaches. This was different. This was angry. This was frightening, and this he could not give into. The bronze circled the black, a long rumbling growl still filling the air between the two whers. Lachask’s eye travelled briefly back to his handler in order to know where everyone was and his growl intensified as his protectiveness for Lachan added to the anger. He positioned himself between Lachan and the remaining wild again and snarled warningly. What LittleBlack did? RAN! he said again, contempt laced through his voice. Careful, we don’t want to provoke him. Lachan had remained silent thus far, but here he had to step up. There didn’t need to be more killing than there had to be surely. Lachask snorted again in derision before speaking to Lachan Let black came, said Lachask, kill, Lachask did. Strong was Lachask. Still, there need not be more killing than necessary… Lachask did not respond, only squared his shoulders and continued to eye off the black.
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Rappu
Pridesecond
rapct[M:55]
Sailor Melty Rainbow Death
Posts: 496
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Post by Rappu on Jul 3, 2012 11:03:45 GMT -5
Laurierd snuck again in the shadow. The eastern beach was eerily quiet and their way there had been surprisingly uneventful. "Darling~ Can you check over there for me? That big rock?" Laurierd whispered at Lauriesk, pointing at a boulder. The green nodded, her eyes sharp and yellow. Laury stay hide. Tell see. Hm. "Oh, don't you worry! I'll call if something comes up!" Laurierd grinned and waved a little. She watched as Lauriesk slithered towards the rock. It was exciting, just like their first patrols! There could be anything there, although hopefully it wasn't anything too dangerous. Laurierd didn't like to see blood or her wher fight, even though Lauriesk was an excellent fighter.
The green slipped around the rock twice, her long tail almost reaching her muzzle. She paused to listen, checked the top of the rock - all in fast, determined movements. She snapped her teeth at the shadows and sniffed the air, but apart from Slosk's washed-out smell she couldn't find anything interesting. Here no. All empty. Hear weyrlie candie out boss wher say. Hm. Find tots? Lauriesk's eyes flashed in the Red Star's light as she lifted her head and faced Laurierd. The handler lifted a hand to her mouth and gasped. "Oh, my goodness! Little candidates and weyrlings all alone on the island while wild, mean whers are having a run of the place? Yes, we've got to go help them!"
Turning back, Lauriesk relayed a message for any alpha wher and dragon within hearing distance. Technically Laurierd told her what needed to be said, but the green found her too long-winded and applied some changes she thought necessary. Very. Hear weyrlies candies out, go find. Weyrlie-candie lost - that lost - see find Laury green Lauriesk. Lauriesk long tail Laury yellow. No need eye descrie Laury. Hm. East all nothing, back Weyr now. She didn't like talking much. Not even when Laurierd told her what to say.
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Kestrel
Wingrider
kestct[M:821]
Posts: 374
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Post by Kestrel on Jul 7, 2012 17:38:30 GMT -5
((These two aren't technically approved yet, but I got permission to throw them in here for plotty fun times anyway!))
Ori make new pretty shinies?[/color]
Ori had, in fact, been attempting to make new pretty shinies—which is to say, she was trying to hammer a strip of metal down into a flatter ribbon for future use—but was finding the task rather impossible since her black wher had decided to pretend to be Ori’s new backpack. His paws scrabbled at her shoulders, and her eyes narrowed as his claws pricked their way through her shirt now and then.
“Off. Now.”
But Orisk want see shinies! So pretties! So nice. Orisk watch.[/color]
As if to emphasize how very much he wanted to watch, and what a good wher he was determined to be while watching, he settled his head down on her shoulder, mouth curved open in what looked deceptively like a smile. Ori set down her hammer.
“Off. You’re drooling on me.”
The wher tilted his head, nuzzling it into her shoulder, which mostly had the effect of leaking even more of his smelly saliva into the sleeve of her shirt.
No drool. Is Orisk looooove.[/color]
Ori sighed. “Can you take your love over there?” she said, pointing to the corner. To her surprise, he did let go, trotting across the floor of the new room the two of them had been assigned to. Most of Ori’s things weren’t even unpacked yet, but she already had her workbench set up. That was always her first priority. She was just resuming her hammering when she felt that familiar tingling at the back of her mind, and abruptly turned, eyes narrowed, to see Orisk slinking toward the door. He lowered his head, unhappy he’d been caught, but kept right on heading for the door, opening his mouth to flash her his signature smile again.
Orisk going out.[/color]
Ori could tell from their connection that the reason wasn’t one of the sneaky wher’s usuals, and she stared harder at him until he stopped walking. Dramatically, he relented, flopping his head around and then down reminiscent of a teenager rolling their eyes. Is trouble. Wher trouble. Bad wher, many wher bad. Kill tasty sillyones. Kill peoplewhers too. Whers all going out, fight badwher. Orisk…Orisk want help! Yes, Orisk help lots. Big help. Orisk hero. Be good wher.[/color]
The wher’s facets had begun to whirl all the faster as he tried his best to look innocent, certain that Ori couldn’t help but let him go out and do as pleased when he had such good intentions, but he never seemed to learn how easy it was for his handler to see through him.
“Oh, we’re goin’ out all right. But you’re staying with me. Don’t you even think about going anywhere I can’t see you,” she grumbled, digging through one of her boxes in search of more suitable clothing.
Is hard not to. Poor humans, bad eyes,[/color] Orisk said, oozing his special brand of false sympathy, but a look from Ori put a stop to that. He changed tactics, waltzing over to his handler and pressing his side into her leg lovingly. Of course, Orisk no leave Ori-favorite. Orisk protect Ori, fight bad whers. Ori no hurt.[/color]
Ori nudged him away with her leg so she could get some thick, proper wherhide pants on before donning her jacket and slipping two knives into their leather sheaths in her belt. Fortunately her crossbow had been one of the other things she’d unpacked early, as it and her quiver of arrows had been hung from pegs on the wall. She slung both of these over her shoulders and onto her back by their straps, then crossed the room to push the door open and made her way out into the darkened hallway.
This is Ori and Orisk, just transferred. We’ll see what we can do to help,[/color] Ori sent to Audren, making use of her troublesome wher’s capabilities. Orisk shook his head, pawing at it and letting out a whine. Why Ori no let Orisk talk big red wher himself? Orisk be good, Orisk good messenger.[/color] Ori didn’t humor him with anything more than a snort, not bothering to slow down. Orisk gave up on his antics soon enough, trotting forward to catch up to his handler’s side. They made their way out of the weyr bowl, slipping past the crowd that was assembled some distance away. Ori had never been much for groups.
Let’s go find these whers.
Orisk’s tongue lolled out of his mouth in his mounting excitement, and they headed into the forest, walking some distance until Orisk found the perfect tree. He quickly began scaling his way up, claws digging into the bark, and Ori followed, climbing up until she found herself a good perch. She pulled her crossbow off her back, inspecting it aptly enough just by touch as she ran her hands over the familiar wood and metal structure. She loaded an arrow, practicing taking aim at another tree before settling back, listening and waiting. She trusted Orisk’s senses much more than her own—if a wher came anywhere near them, he would know.
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Chek
Weyrlingmaster
chekct[M:-15]
I'm so magical I vomit rainbows
Posts: 1,091
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Post by Chek on Jul 9, 2012 6:43:50 GMT -5
OOC: Long post ahead, ya'll. Warning for violence. And DEATH.
Damali was honestly surprised by how quickly she'd caught up to the rogue wher – definitely confirmed as a red now, at least. On the rocky slopes leading up to the outside wall of the Weyr, Damask had spotted a spot of movement high above them; several cautious moments of observation, creeping closer and fighting for a better vantage point was rewarded when even Damali was able to make out the gleam of red hide in the dim moonlight.
From there, they'd had to content themselves to pacing the rogue red from the treeline, far below – the red had worked herself up onto a high cliff and hadn't yet emerged from either side where it sloped off. Damali had no idea what the wher was doing up there, but she knew it was too dangerous to try and work her own way up before her backup arrived.
Careful directions had Ridan and his gold on their way to tentatively meeting her at the base of the cliff; the plan was to try and come up on either side of the rogue and trap her in a pincer before she could get away. However...that plan was soon abandoned, Damask's head coming up and, with a snort, notified Damali of additional movement headed along the cliff – but above them, high up where the red was.
Shards – Ridan wasn't familiar enough with the landmarks of the outer Weyr. One of them had gone wrong – she giving directions or him following.
Damask snarled, shaking her head with her own and her handler's frustration, What do? Too high, walk trap. Stupid!
The reply came a few seconds later, Red stupid, strong trail. Find, kill, done. Wait, watch.
Damali hissed through her teeth, drawing her lips away from her teeth in an unintentional mimic of her red's snarl. Ridan appeared near the edge of the cliff, far above them, and lifted a hand in silent acknowledgment of them – once they edged out of the treeline enough for him to see them. On edge, they started creeping towards the other slope – Damali somewhat hopeful the original plan could be salvaged – keeping one eye on Ridan as he crouched near the edge of the cliff, barely visible to the redheaded Pridesecond. From what she could see, he had to be tracking Risk's movements, his head moving as he tracked something she couldn't see.
The sound of crashing rocks had Damali and Damask jolting forward at high speed, Damali having the grip tightly to one of her red's sharp spines to avoid getting thrown – but lucky that they ran, because a tumble of rocks crashed down behinds them – and from above echoed Risk's indignant howls, Rocks! Rocks fall! Stupid red, rocks!
The tone of her howls changed abruptly, taking on a sharper, desperate note – and Risk shouted, actually shouted, broadcasting freely, No! NO! NONONONONONONO! Underlying her screams was a lower, human scream – Damali jerked her head around, looking at where Ridan had been – and he was still there, but so was their rogue red, her mouth clamped around his thigh, shaking him violently.
“Shards! SHARDS!” The redhead lifted her crossbow as Damask scrambled back over the rockfall, trying to get her within range to take a shot, anything to buy the goldhandler enough time for his wher to reach him – and then the unexpected happened.
The edge of the cliff gave way.
Damask skirted hard towards the forest, desperately trying to keep herself and her handler from being buried. Damali's eyes where locked on the drama unfolding high above, though she kept her knees tight about Damask's belly. The wild red backpedaled desperately to avoid being taken off the cliff in the fall, and in doing so, she opened her mouth and released Ridan.
Released him over the edge.
Damali screamed, totally unable to help herself, as she watched the goldhandler tumble through the air, clawing at the unstable cliff face, not finding purchase...and finally hitting the ground a dozen yards away with a wet, meaty, final-sounding thud.
For a second or so, the only sound was the rattle of settling rocks – and then Risk reached the edge of the cliff, clawing the edge and totally ignoring the speedily retreating rogue wher, staring downwards at her handler and warbling in desperation.
The warbling heightened in pitch, gradually transitioning into the most terrible, heartrending keen Damali had heard in all her turns in various Weyrs – she had to clamp her hands over her ears in an attempt to drown out the terrible noise. She expected it to cut off as the gold Betweened, or when she jumped over the cliff to follow her handler into death – but no.
The keen gave way to a high, eerie scream of pure, nearly tangible fury, enough to make Damask instinctively back into the shelter of the treeline. Above them, Risk beat her face against the rocks at her feet, trying to force the terrible emptiness away – beating her face against them until her hide split and ichor dribbled freely from her mouth – but it wasn't enough. Everything that was good in her world was gone. Dead.
And the world dared keep going.
Her scream cut off; the massive gold swayed in place, alternating between staring at her own ichor dribbling on the rocks at her feet and the broken body of HERS sprawled at the bottom of the cliff.
How dare the world keep on going as if he didn't matter.
She'd rip it apart.
She'd rip everything apart.
Later, Damali wouldn't remember what word she'd involuntarily breathed when Risk shot off into the night, heading west – towards the Weyr entrance. Damali got her crossbow up, and took a shot – but the distance was bad, as was the angle, and she skimmed the rocks, missing completely.
Damask freely opened her mind to her handler, knowing that her normal speech couldn't as quickly convey the severity of the situation, Ridan is dead, Risk has gone berserk – she's heading toward the Weyr! Cut her off, don't let her get inside!
Damali wanted nothing more than to take off after the gold, to try and stall her – but she was a lone redhandler, and she had a target already. Risk was a massive danger, but so was the red – and Risk was heading right towards the largest concentration of large whers on the island.
Fighting against every instinct telling her to go after the bigger threat, Damali nudged Damask into following the rogue red again, reloading her crossbow as they moved over the rockfalls.
* * *
Damali had no way of predicting that Risk, rather than heading straight towards the main entrance, had instead turned and rapidly clawed her way up the side of the outer Weyr wall, scaling at times near vertical areas with astonishing speed and agility, heedless of the damage done to her claws and paws, mind still eaten up in her unending, frothing rage.
She paused for a moment at the top, breathing heavily, tucked neatly in the shadow of a large boulder, ichor dribbling from her mouth as she balefully surveyed the skittering insects who dared to keep moving, to keep living...and picked out her target in a moment of brief lucidity.
She flung herself over the edge, spreading her stunted wings and stooping into a barely controlled, clumsy glide, her claws flexing in anticipation as she rapidly closed on the first of the heretics.
Near the ground, one of the delicate bones in her tiny wings gave way – snapping and turing her clumsy glide into a drop right above her prey. That snap was all the warning Tarhusk had, giving the white only a moment to look up, process the situation, and make to fling herself forward, knocking her handler, and the confused Candidate he was escorting to the Barracks, out of the way of the dropping gold.
Risk landed heavily on the white's back, snapping it instantly – still, the white tried to bite, eyes whirling red and gray, anything to defend her handler – Tarhune collapsed to his knees, shoving the Candidate away from the rampaging gold before being overcome by the shared pain his bonded was going through.
Risk clamped her mouth down over the white's head, the white so very much smaller than her, but still, valiantly, trying to fight, to protect – and Risk snapped her head up, cracking the white wher's body like a whip and flinging the dying, broken white haphazardly – sending her right into the fleeing Candidate, burying the girl under the white's heavy body and smashing her them both up against a small tumble of boulders.
Tarhune retched, on his hands and knees, reeling from the death of his beautiful, quirky white – when Risk clamped her jaws over his face and neck and bit down. He died instantly, crushed in the massive teeth of the gold, but Risk shook him violently as well, flinging him in the opposite direction of the Candidate and broken white.
Blood joining the ichor dribbling out of her mouth, Risk turned her gaze on the nearest cluster of activity – the makeshift healer's camp.
OOC: WHERS IN THE WEYR. MWAHAHAHA. One injury request: filled. The requester knows who they are; if anyone else wants to be in Risk's mouth before the end, let me know asap. It'll have to happen in my next post, ya'll.
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Reky
Alphahandler
rekyct[M:-999]
SO PRO
Posts: 1,554
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Post by Reky on Jul 9, 2012 13:18:05 GMT -5
There was a brief sense of gratitude directed towards Orisk's slippery mind, but that was all Audren and Ausk had the focus to spare. Strange sounds were caught on the wind; high, shrill, and pained sounds, laced with the scent of ichor and dust. The night air was disconcertingly clean and crisp - it was like a false comfort; a soothing pat on the back where none was welcome. Audren almost wanted her lungs to be filled with the thick smells of battle, because it kept her head in the game. It wanted to wander to safety, but she couldn't let it. The sorrowful keening tore at her heartstrings and, when it rose higher, drove her mad. Something was terribly wrong, and she had a bad feeling about it.
Damali's warning pierced the minds of every poor soul awake that night. Audren's heart clenched. She knew it. Somehow, she had guessed, for there was only one thing that could make a wher cry like Risk had. She lunged for the wherish fray and swung herself up onto Ausk's gnarled shoulders. "Stay here," she cried to Kalenna, Rakir, and Physicero. The wild green was being savaged and the handler's leg got briefly caught in the tangle, but she planted her heels firmly against the red and spurred her onward.
Ausk snarled and hissed, charging over her abandoned prey and towards the mouth of Dalibor. Audren's red blood dripped down Ausk's side. Her claws scrabbled at the wood of the bridge as they passed over, vaulting over and pushing off of the railing to land on the opposite bank. They saw their comrades rushing to the entrance; rushing to the healers; rushing to each other. Then, in the distance, she saw Risk. Tarhusk was dead and Tarhune was in the bondless gold's jaws. For a moment, Audren wanted to go with her red, to cradle those beloved broken bodies in her arms, but her common sense got the best of her. Partway to the monster, she leapt from Ausk's back and rolled to break her fall. Immediately she was on her feet and running.
"MOVE," she screamed to the healer's camp. "GET INSIDE IMMEDIATELY." And she drew her jagged dagger and stood between them and the whers to guard them while they fled. As soon as they had, she would move too. She was brave, but still her heart pounded wildly in her chest, because she knew how useless she was. She had no chance against a raging Queen.
But Ausk did. The red had barreled onward when her handler had jumped. She needed no instruction. Foaming at the mouth, shrieking, and hungry, Ausk was a juggernaut of feral instinct. Since she had come to Dalibor, she had wanted to killed Risk. It was territorial, it was primal, and now - underneath the glare of the Red Star - she had a reason and a chance. She threw herself at Risk with all she had and stuck her claws into the larger, metallic beast. Her powerful hind legs remained firmly planted. Her wings flared as a threatening display. She swallowed the first piece of flesh she tore from Risk's holy body.
Ausk was a heretic; a blasphemer. Here, she ate the Golden Queen - the one that had lorded so profusely over the darkness and caverns of Dalibor. Here, she filled her belly with the blood of her enemy - of the Weyr's enemy. She bellowed and cracked her skull against Risk's; she backed up and rammed into the gold over and over; she went for the throat. Risk may have been larger and older, but Ausk fought dirty. Her thirst for ichor could not be sated. Risk tasted all wrong, as though Ausk could sense the insanity and agony with ever bite and slash. She loved it.
The red had waited a very long time for this battle. It had been inevitable; some day, it would have happened, but any other day, the two would have been stopped and locked up. This day, however, she had no tethers. Audren had given her all of her freedom for the first time since she had hatched. She would be sealed up again as soon as Risk was dead, but the red didn't know that. The entirety of her being was focused on killing. She reveled in the fires of violence and bloodlust that it set inside her, and as she ripped and tore and ate, she was truly herself for the first time.
She was a red wher. She was Ausk. She was not a pet; she was a weapon. She was consuming her nemesis, bit by bit, and no amount of pain - no bloodloss, no injury, no amputation - would stop her. [/blockquote]
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Jul 9, 2012 15:23:30 GMT -5
The iron's head rotated around on his neck, tracking Damask's departure. His contemplation of whether or not this constituted Running fell apart at the intrusion of another red upon his nerves. He jerked back from the incline, warbling and clattering his jaws together in an incoherent reply. When his old mate lurched his way he exposed the shiny blue interior of his mouth, lips pulling off the roots of his fangs, but he also began shuffling backward. Each phrase prompted an impulsive retreating step, uncalculated enough that he almost tripped on his own rear feet. He got off a high, mournful whistle in the half-moment break between Ausk's mental assaults, cocking his head after Kalesk furtively before the red's impacts had him slipping down onto his stomach before her.
His jaws remained open as a reminder that too great a proximity would prompt a less cordial greeting than what he had offered before, but he was otherwise shrinking into a submissive imitation boulder. He hugged the incline, not moving even when Ausk moved away to attack a wayward green. Slosk observed. He might have Run for the green once, but if he held any sympathy, it was not strong enough to be worth crossing Ausk. Besides, there were nights for Running and nights where other whers needed to be picked out of the borders of his territory, no matter their size or color. Ausk was just taking care of this one for him.
His instinct now was to complete his retreat and investigate the other borders of his land, but he did not move lest he draw Ausk's thorny interest back to him. He was good at waiting, so he did that instead.
He was rewarded not with eventual safety via the stone-whers' absence, but by a royal spike of pain slamming into his mind. Though Ausk was difficult to attune to outside her Runs, the disorienting desperation in the distant gold's broadcast was inherited as easily as a breath of air. The iron squealed, snapping at the wind and then rolling his heavy body over on the brittle ground cover. He stumbled up, shaking his head and bobbling between a growl and a whimper as his eyes rolled gray, then brilliant red. His muscular legs vaulted him off the ground in an awkward, twisting hop, followed by a landing shoulder-first.
Aided little by the sudden departure of Ausk, the iron whined at the remaining stone-whers, then spasmed as if someone had lit a spark under his tail and thundered straight forward: to the east, away from his home sea.
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Lan
Weyrlingmaster
lanct[M:-1025]
Nomming ALL the kidpets!
Posts: 1,266
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Post by Lan on Jul 9, 2012 16:23:43 GMT -5
A cry. It was a cry so broken, so terrible, so unimaginable it ripped at the minds of those that had joined the fray. Losk keened in sympathy. Physisk shrieked as, with the red Ausk, he helped attempt to lay their green prey to rest. Cask and Dask cried as well into the night. Even Waroth, the large a looming presence high along the Weyr entrance, hissed at the sound. Goldwher's is dead. She hunts. Nimara felt a sourness in her stomach threaten to make its way to her mouth. She swallowed it back, grabbing tighter to her dragon's riding straps. Kalenna and Kalesk were still down at the entrance, meaning that it was Ridan that had fallen. It hardly mattered, either way. Now as the only responsible riders awake at this hour, it was their duty to make sure their weyrlings were safe.
Like Damali, Nimara assumed that Risk would take a trail around the outside of the Weyr, which is where she focused her efforts. She and Waroth moved to where Halventh, L'xon, and Aylina were station. The red landed in front of Halventh, blasting from her throat a terrifying roar, broadcasting her mindvoice to all three of them. DO YOU WANT TO DIE, STUPID DRAGON?! I SHOULD BREAK YOUR WINGS FOR YOUR DISOBEDIENCE. MAYBE THEN YOU WILL CAUSE ME NO MORE PROBLEMS. Waroth was not playing games with them. She got up into the blue's face so close her breath sprayed him with spittle, staring him down with her lips pulled into a fierce snarl. She moved forward still, her talons aiming to step on his foot to keep him from retreating as she pressed her face closer to his. He would learn, foolish dragon. He would learn not to ignore the orders of his queen!
Nimara, looking only slightly less amused than the red she focused her energy on keeping from destroying the brats before her, addressed L'xon and Aylina with a coldness in her voice only reserved for such life-threatening situations. "Fly back to the Weyr and stay as high as you can. Risk has gone rogue." Her place on Waroth's back bobbed with each of the red's angry breaths. "If you disobey me again I'll make sure you're withheld from graduation." Oh, yes... their Weyrlingmaster would definitely hear about this. They should make no mistake in that. Waroth growled angrily, then stepped back to relinquish her hold on the blue weyrling. Nimara leashed her tighter, pulling her upward to the sky to make their way to the next Weyrling in need of their special brand of assistance. Even though Waroth, left, though, they expected their orders to be followed immediately.
Lonet turned her attention to Losk as he keened, her heart sinking into her chest. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. Cries from inside the Bowl sealed their fate and Lonet pulled the blue back from the front just as Audren came tumbling over to them. The Weyrhealer did just that. Grabbing her amputation saw she left the rest behind, grabbing Ondine's arm to take the girl with her. "Fly with Dilath, girl! No buts! You don't want to be on the ground right now." Lonet all but threw the apprentice healer toward the pink, positioning Losk with her mind ahead of herself and Audren to help cover their escape. She would not move until the girl and her pink were safe. Weyrlings were more important than old, healer wherhandlers. As soon as they were safely in the sky, though, Lonet and Losk would move with Audren to the safety inside the tunnels.
Physicero held strong next to Kalenna, watching over Physisk as he continued to defend them from Missisk. Camea and Darryl claimed spots next to Physicero and Kalenna as well as their whers, Cask and Dask, took up arms along the line holding the mouth of the Weyr as well.
In the forest Xsssk had found her newest prey. She stayed well hidden, away from the rock Lauriesk was smelling. Any moment now... any moment she would be able to strike. As they were busy worrying about the weyrlings and relaying messages, Xsssk sprung out from her hiding place. On legs surprising fast for her injured body she leaped to jump on Lauriesk's back with little thought to her still-fresh injuries. Her talons reached to try to scrape away flesh from the green's back and wings. Her teeth flashed to try to sink into the green's neck. The only thoughts in her bloodlust-ridden mind were of death and destruction and chaos. It was her time to shine! It was her time to get the better of this lesser green!
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Post by purnip on Jul 9, 2012 23:52:45 GMT -5
Wrynri prayed that his wher was on his way back, because matters were getting hot and heavy on the field. It looked like the Bronze was fighting off more than a couple of wilds at one point, though the Blue in all likelihood was down for the count. The Green was gone, but he suspected backup was just around the corner due to the Bronze's posture. He knew better than to so much as breathe out of rhythm while he remained in this bush, utterly defenseless. His body tensed as the sound of rustling just behind him, panting added. He was able to relax once he realized his wher was back in his company.
"Find others," Wrynri whispered. Later he had to thank this Bronzepair for coming to his rescue. He would have been dead had all three of those whers turned on Wrynsk. The Brown couldn't handle that kind of situation on his own.
His wher huffed, but he wasn't ready to move just yet. Leave you not, he replied bluntly.
"No...no, of course not," Wrynri gathered. He started to get up carefully, making sure he wasn't going to get targeted right away. "I'm useless without you."
Same. Must help others. Sense danger, Wrynsk does. Sense death.
The handler climbed onto his whers back and adjusted himself on, though his leg was injured during the attack. It wasn't a break or anything serious, but the pain reminded him of how easily it could have turned for the worse. He needed to act smartly if they were going to be of any help to anyone. The two weren't fully aware of how serious the situation was or how bad it was becoming, but they weren't going to stand idly by either. Wrynsk sensed danger. It was their duties and nightwatchmen to keep the weyr safe from monsters, whether they were wild whers or gutsy men.
Wrynsk suddenly froze, a flood of information reaching him on the winds of screams and roars in the distance. Mother's is...Riskhuman gone. Dead, Risk's.
"Wh-what?"
Furious, she is. Wrynsk stop her must! Weyr in danger!
The Brown turned sharply, his goal, the weyr's entrance. He would be on the front lines to guard the innocent from that rampaging Gold. His mother...perhaps others forgot their roots with age, but to Wrynsk, Risk would always be just that. He took off, purposeful in his sprint through the trees. He was about to cross paths with another wild first, one he wasn't intending to fight. As he reached that checkpoint, he dashed passed without trying to attract Slosk's attention. If he was chased, hell, there was a good chance he'd be a little faster. Besides, with Wrynri on his back, he didn't want to fight any more than necessary.
Wrynri thought he could make out Lyrnsk's hide in the distance. If the Iron wild was on their tail for trespassing through his sight, they could be leading a leviathan to a lamb. "If he follows us, we must engage before we get too close to the entrance. We can't put everyone in even more danger."
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Alec
Wingrider
alecct[M:-360]
Cuteness abound!
Posts: 544
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Post by Alec on Jul 10, 2012 1:30:26 GMT -5
Zunusk waited for a moment before pouncing on Slhhssk again. He clawed more along the blue's back, then raised a claw to hit his spine, when the blue dashed the two of them towards Lachask. Zunusk was carried along with him, and he dug his claws deeper into the wher's flesh.
He was about to jump off, when the bronze took off Slhhssk's jaw with a single swipe of his claw. Zunusk collapsed to the ground as the blue's dead body fell next to him. He stood up and began licking the ichor off of his paws. He had sated his thirst to kill. While it was the bronze who delivered the final blow, he had cecrtainly helped.
However, the true danger of the situation he was in finally took hold, and his eyes whirled yellow as he tensed, ready to go out fighting. But Lachask wasn't attacking. Instead, he was telling him to run. It left Zunusk confused, especially after seeing the blue viciously killed just a moment before.
But he was smart enough to know that the bronze was giving him a chance to live. He eased his body a bit as he realized this and lowered his head down in submission. Was it the twoleg that was the reason why he was being spared? The thought intrigued him, but he decided to leave while he still had the chance.
His head remained down as he slowly approached the much larger bronze. Zunus gently touched the bronze's leg with his nose, as if saying thanks, before dashing off towards the woods before Lachask decided to change his mind. He paused briefly when Risk's mournful cry went out. It was mournful enough to make a small keen come from Zunusk as well.
When the keen turned into a scream, one of pure anger, is when Zunusk decided it was indefinitely time to leave in case Risk decided to come his way. With a final glance and snort at Lachask and Lachan, he dashed into the woods, heading east where his small cave was. The small stub-tailed black just hoped that nothing else would stop him before he arrived there.
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T'von waited further down by the Weyr entrance atop Moruluth, still waiting for any injured to show up. So far, none had shown up, which was good and bad. It was good in the sense that not many whers or handlers were getting harmed, but those that were were unable to come for whatever reason. It made the two of them worried, but he remained where he was at. They were already in trouble for leaving the Weyr, he wasn't going to get into more by leaving again.
The dreadful cry that came out of the dark pulled at their heartstrings and Moruluth warbled unhappily. This is such a terrible night. So much death in the air. T'von nodded his head sagely. "Too much." His purple turned his head to his right where he saw the faint outline that was Tarhusk and Tarhune.
Moments later, the much larger form of Risk fell upon them, and Moruluth roared as the two were killed. He rose into the air, hoping to get to others and move them before the gold got to them. Audren made it to the healer's camp before he did, and as he flew past they all seemed like they had things under control, seeing the handler and her wher giving a chance for Ondine to escape while Ausk fought with Risk.
In case something happened to the red, Moruluth flew farther into the Weyr to see if he could assist anyone. The pair came across Ciali and Cilia, and Moruluth landed just ahead of them. T'von called out to them. "Hey, you two need to go back to the Barracks. Gold Risk is in a rampage and is in the Weyr. And if Ausk cannot stop her neither of you would stand a chance out here." Moruluth lowered himself to the ground so the two would be able to get on his neck with ease. It would be much quicker if we flew you there. The quicker you are inside the better. he said to both of the Candidates. Whenever the two were back inside, then T'von and Moruluth would return to their position back at the entrance.
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Post by Frangipani on Jul 10, 2012 2:50:59 GMT -5
Lachask growled in triumph as the black retreated, although he was keenly aware of his handler’s general distaste for violence. He had killed tonight. That was enough for now unless absolutely necessary. He forced himself back under control again and strolled back towards Lachan. Lachan meanwhile glanced again towards the bushes where the brownhandler was huddling. Wild wher free, he might as well go and introduce himself. He smiled a little and approached the man although a rustling caused both bronze and handler to snap around again into defensive positions. Lachan relaxed visibly when he saw it was the brown back for his handler. Lachask nudged Lachan in the elbow Named Brown, what be asked Lachan… Yeah, yeah, I was just about to he looked back to the brown and handler only to see the two disappearing off into the night. Lachan folded his arms across his chest in thought, wondering whether or not to feel slighted by the lack of interaction. Then again – the two had just been through a traumatic event. Maybe he should give them the benefit of the doubt. Lachan looked around at the woods surrounding him and his wher. Perhaps they should continue east? Finally he looked back to Lachask and stopped.
As the bronze handler had been contemplating the behaviour of the brown and his handler, Lachask had been contemplating something of his own. Something was wrong. Something was very very wrong. He could hear a desperate crying on the wind and he could not tell who or what it was. He had only been in the weyr for a few candlemarks and this was a baptism by fire. Then he heard the red’s call. Died! Wher’s died. Wher attacked! Went Weyr, Lachask did. Lachan, went! Weyr attacked! Lachask snapped his head around and looked at Lachan earnestly, not even willing to consider the pain that the wher in question must be feeling. No, His he would protect always. But now the weyr needed to be protected from this rampaging wher. He had no real way of knowing that anywher was inside and protecting. Lachan’s eyes widened as he slowly deciphered what Lachask was saying. Kayles! He had to get back there now. Without another thought he turned and rushed back towards the weyr on foot. He had never ridden Lachask, the bronze had too much pride for that and it had reached a point now where he did not even bother to ask. He stumbled through the undergrowth, not knowing anything other than his desperation to get back. Oh Faranth, let her have stayed in the room. He heard a crashing behind him but ignored it until he felt something grab his leg and throw him up into the air. He looked about stunned before he landed squarely on Lachask’s back. Silly, Lachan was. Lachask stronger, faster. Lachask beat Lachan, Lachask and Lachan FLEW! Lachan was touched by his wher’s concern as they pelted back towards the weyr mouth and his irritably brushed at his eyes as they teared up – mostly from the wind but partly because of the sentiment.
They reached the mouth of the bowl to the sound of bellowing and shrieking. There was a line defending against a green, attempting to hold her out and further in Lachask could sense was sheer brutality. That was not something he wanted to get his bronze sheen involved in right now. Besides, these whers could always use backup. Stopped, once more did Lachask, way home – slower was. The bronze stopped abruptly and waited for Lachan to get off his back expectantly. Lachan slid to the ground and stumbled over to the other handlers in a slight daze, not used to riding his wher like that. Lachask meanwhile hovered at the edge of the fray, waiting for an opportunity. He let out a snarl, hopefully breaking the attacking green’s focus.
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Boo
Jr. Weyrwoman
booct[M:-425]
Shirath: THOSE aren't spirit fingers... THESE ARE SPIRIT FINGERS!!!
Posts: 1,917
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Post by Boo on Jul 10, 2012 3:09:23 GMT -5
For the moment they had stood, watching and keeping guard. If they saw something they would alert the others to the presence of a wild wher. From what she had heard, there was very little she and Kisk could do to assist. The larger whers were out in fighting force and Kire was reluctant to allow Kisk to just go charging off into the wilderness. She held with her a knife but this would do little against a wild wher except perhaps deter it for a short while.
It was a keening call from a wher that chilled Kire to the bone not to mention the other calls she’d heard. So many were now dead and she could only hope that Camea was safe. Hope that Darryl, Wrynri, Audren, Kalenna, Damali and all of her closest friends were still safe. She could only hope that the other wherhandlers were all right, for their numbers would simply become far too few with the loss of any more. She heard Risk and learned of the gold’s position.
“Ridan dead…”
Yet that was not the true worry here. What was most of concern was that Risk was now in the Weyr, attacking rogue with the grief at the loss of her handler. Kire turned and ran down towards where she could hear the great gold’s snarls. She could hear the hammering of something and as she rounded the corner, she spotted Ausk fighting against the great gold. A whimper beside her told her that Kisk was frightened as he dropped to his belly.
By the actions of his mother, Kisk became bolder, growling at Risk. Kire held her knife uselessly, watching as the red defended against the gold. What could they do? Kisk was too small to be of any help and Kire still couldn’t contemplate what was happening. Ridan dead and Risk rogue. Suddenly she brought herself too order and stood near Audren, offering what little support she could, not passing between Ausk and Risk. She knew a fight when she saw one and getting involved in this one could spell her death. “Kisk, we have to protect the healers. Don’t let Risk near them.”
Kisk looked at her, eyes whirling with fear and worry before he growled again and took up a defensive stance between the healers and Risk, standing beside Kire. KISK AM NEED HELP! Need be guard healer! NOBLEWHERGUARD HEALERS! Kisk called out to any who would listen.
[/blockquote]
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Jul 10, 2012 12:05:35 GMT -5
Unath woke up. She looked across her weyr at the room where Q'sis was. She waited, but he was still asleep. Her awake and him asleep didn't make very much sense, so she went back to sleep too.
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Halventh wagged his head from side to side, pointing his nose moonsward. L'xon, sitting on his back along with a rapid gathering of nervous fishcrafters, pressed his lips together.
Did Waroth just bespeak you?
Maybe~
She told you to go back the Weyr? L'xon could feel his cheeks chilling under the secondhand wrath of the red. Coming out here had been Halventh's prompt, but he was the rider. He was supposed to keep his dragon better informed.
Maybe.
"Change of plans," the blueweyrling said, twisting toward the crafters, who were to a man mesmerized by the tick-tocking upside-down pendulum of Halventh's head. The blond cleared his throat, and they looked at him. "I came here in error. Go back inside your houses, shutter the windows and barricade your doors. That will keep you safer than my assistance. I apologize." Unimpressed but agreeable, the men began slipping off of Halventh. The blue gave the last one a bit of a boost by wiggling his arm before L'xon caught him. "Aylina-"
Halventh screamed. L'xon could feel the ice of the sound choking his own throat and swallowed it back down. His young blue mantled open his wings. Wanted to jump. Wanted to fly. Wanted to go home. Right now!
Stop! The word was so meager, his will behind it so puny in spite of the obvious danger that he had to claw it into Halventh to keep the blue from blinking out on instinct. Halventh fell back to the ground more than touching his paws back to it, and lay there quivering under his rider, big-eyed as a fish out of water. L'xon inherited little of the emotion this time, as he was putting all his concentration on keeping his dragon grounded. Somewhere in Halventh, though, he detected a message aside from the involuntary one. "Ridan 's dead!" he shouted at the tanrider he had, disastrously, shown up to assist.
His dragon only gurgled at Waroth, spotting her approach well before she landed. He did immediately try that step back, only to find his paw trapped under much larger talons. He did not complain, but L'xon was holding his own untouched hand as he stared at the Candidatemaster. His gaze dulled as Waroth sprang away again, and then he extended his other hand to Aylina. Halventh corresponded with an extension of his arm. "Ride with me, and tell Wenth to follow us back to the Weyr," he said more than urged, a rote redirection of the orders passed to him.
---
The wild iron forded the stream gushing from the Weyr, sliding out onto the eastern bank and roughing his chest on the rock where there was no mud to cushion him. The gold was close. He could smell her. But others also- too many of them. He lunged up the embankment at a passing brown, but stopped short, a sickly yellow light boiling out of his eyes as his snout swiveled toward the rock falls along Dalibor's eastern flank. Ausk bellowed somewhere within, Risk screamed, and Slosk arched up on his rear legs to roar back at both of them, small wings spreading for balance.
A bronze too came flitting past him, toward his territory in fact. Slosk groaned, but returned to a pursuit of the golden smell. Risk had led him here before. Her feet had clawed down plates of rock from the Weyr wall, one of which had smote him off the cliffs and out of her Run. Sweet failure. It was just like that night, with plumes of rockdust clouding the way ahead, and the percussion of tumbling pebbles whispering of ghosts on the cliffside. His mouth accumulated spit in response to the dry, gritty air, overproduction instigating wet growls on each breath as he tried to clear his throat. His nose blundered into a paw print and he scratched at the strange tattoo. It was smaller than his own crumpled talon. It didn't belong to Risk.
He prowled the base of the wall, sometimes circling, not in any methodical way but as though lost from one step to the next. His wings folded up, but trembled in their niches at either side of his hump. He dipped his tongue at the ground so many times that it became studded with igneous shards and began to bleed. A sneeze dotted the ground with green, but he had rooted something Risk-like out of the air and followed it at a dogged trot. His luminous eyes, shielded from dust now by the flexation of their inner lids, gave a gauzy look to a figure lying on the ground ahead.
Slosk snarled to test for a reaction, but there wasn't any. He could smell Risk, but this thing was too small. And it was patchy red, not gold. The iron stilled, watching the carcass, only a little more detailed in silhouette than the prows of rock sticking out of the earth around him.
And considerably smellier, of course.
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