If you want to get out alive.... (Plot)

[Rei]

Z’ves tightened his hold on Lucith as they burst from between over the canyon, two greens flanking him on either side and the rest of the wing falling into auto formation as well. Death awaits them all yes? A dry snort was given to his dragon. Not all. But close enough. Stick to what instructions we where given. Prevent them from leaving. And if they resist they are ours to kill. Smiling the bluerider gave a signal to his close wing mates. Don’t get too excited Lucith. From what I hear they aren’t much. A snap of teeth against air followed that statement as the riders started a slow decent into the canyon. Wait for the signal and then….

A death keen went up, ringing in the canyon. Now. Falling into an easy formation the wing shot over the canyon, the greens and blues breaking off to flame the openings of the weyrledges. No escape. A booming voice addressed the canyon then, the wingleading brown hovering in plain sight. Resistance is futile. Emerge from your ledges and be torn from the sky. Drop your weapons and stay where you are if you want to live.

Lucith whipped around a wing mate as a flash of blue caught his eye. Above. Z’ves instantly transferred the pair between, the arrow trained on him harmlessly shooting into open air. When they reemerged they came face to face with one of the Legatus riders. Evrgarde of Blue Iorath it seemed. If information held true. Can we call this resistance? Lucith bared his teeth in a feral smile. We certainly can. A mocking hiss sounded before the two blues started the aerial battle, Lucith quickly proving to be the quicker opponent. Mockingly the smaller blue crooned to Iorath, talons finally finding a purchase in the other blue’s flanks before his green wing mates burst from between to finish him off. The battle was quick, the Legatus blue transferring between with barely a keen.

Further below the threesome heard a shriek from one of their wing. Involved with another pair it seemed, Ar'ren of Brown Ysaloth. The smaller brown, hassled as he was, still had time to deliver the message he needed to. Senior Weyrlings the time to evacuate is now. If you cannot remember the coordinates you where given Behruth can remind you. Move swiftly. It is very likely your lives depend on it. Directly after his calm yet firm message his wing sails where shredded and he fell right into the waiting talons of the intruders.

One bluepair watched this all with cold amusement. So close to the infirmary ledges. Protecting it no doubt. Fools. As Ysaloth fell the pair swung around to continue the work of blocking the ledges, keeping an eye out for anyone stupid enough to attempt an escape. Find a place to drop me off. You can handle these pups without me. I'll be displeased if I miss all the fun. Understood.

~~~

Okay kiddlets here is the scoop.

This thread is only for ESCAPE. That’s it. If you fight back be warned because you are giving me permission to do what I want to your riders, baring death of course. If you want to die... Feel free to throw yourself at my wing. >D

Points to note

This occurs in early morning. So likely you are all getting a rude awakening. No one should probably be out of their beds unless they are part of a early practicing wing like Legatus, have a morning infirm shift, ect.
My wing has control of the canyon. You can’t escape with straight flight.
Obviously it will do your rider no good to escape on foot when their dragon cannot follow.
M’ta, (if you have been lurking you will know this), has been mapping out the tunnels of the canyon to plan out escape routes. You probably are safe using these.

This thread is for
Senior Weyrlings YOU ALL NEED TO POST
NOTE: Senior weyrlings have been given jump points to places the candidates/weyrfolk can exit from in the jungles. As well as a common point beyond that with the instruction to flee at the first sign of an enemy. IF YOU DO NOT POST THEM THEY DO NOT GET OUT. ALL SENIOR WEYRLINGS NEED TO ESCAPE.
Candidates ~ who desire to leave.
NOTE : If you get them out you /will/ miss the next clutch but we are practically guaranteeing you a slot in the clutch following. Please consider this option before you post. If you post your candidate here they are evacuating. If you do not wish to evac your candidate don't post.
Weyrfolk
>> We don’t have many (basically Mae and Emoyan) but if you have one and you want them out take this opportunity.
Any of those helping with evac situations
ie: M'ta

Currently dead
Ar'ren of Brown Ysaloth
Evrgarde of Blue Iorath
Cer'c of Green Harmonyth
Sari of Green Upasanath
'Reine of Blue Madhavath
Rof'l of Bronze Kamath

[Requiem]

Please report in to me once you and Yours are in place so we know where to send people, Behruth bespoke the senior weyrlings, even as he gave the coordinates to the clearing with the Legatus dragons to Trilaranth. M’ta pointed the way down the corridors, whispering hurried directions to the brown rider who he knew simply as Erilena’s (former?) boyfriend.

Things were appearing more and more dire with each passing moment, though at least the death keens had slacked off some after the Immunis Wing was torn from the skies and Hepaticath’s was slain. Millieth’s had been captured, though, along with all the junior weyrlings and a good portion of the healers. M’ta did his best to put R’wign and Teri out of his mind; there was nothing he could do for them now. The halls with the rider weyrs were the most dangerous, and soon the noose would tighten to the point of asphyxiation and the riders would be completely trapped. Most were already.

He gestured to the boy who wanted to help, looking over the young teen solemnly. “How fast can you run?” the brown rider murmured. Satisfied by the answer, he laid out the route to one of the weyrlings. “Run fast. Don’t look back. Tell the weyrling you find not to return. I’ll help you as best I can but you’ll probably still have tails.” M’ta melted back into the shadows of a doorway when the boy took off running. He was discovered almost instantly. One. Two. Three men passed M’ta in full chase, clearing the hall for the moment. The brown rider stepped from his cover when they were halfway down the corridor, whipping his blades in swift succession. One, two men down. The third blade stuck quivering in the wall, arriving seconds after the foremost of the teenager’s pursuers turned the corner.

He had very little time before the other riders responded to their dead. Less if the third turned back. M’ta dashed, up on toes to minimize the noise, sliding through the door that took him two seconds to jimmy. He crouched, hissing “friend” to prevent any attack that might be forthcoming. In the end, the decision had been easy; it seemed that the metallics were the ones being killed with any consistency. Behruth was giving the jump coordinates to Mavenath at that very moment. “Get mounted and don’t worry about your straps,” M’ta insisted in low tones. “You should find other dragons there. They’re killing everyone who rides bronze, as far as we can tell. The halls are almost completely blocked off.” In fact, this one was probably swarming by now, and they’d be looking for anyone carrying throwing knives. “You’ve not time. Go.”

It occurred to him to stash the knives and undress enough to seem as if he’d woken moments before, but he knew that many of the riders went armed. That, and the absence of a dragon would be queer. It also seemed that they had intel on the locations of everyone, as well as appearances of gold riders. Was it really that much of a stretch that they might know members of Legatus too? Of them, M’ta was the only one who used throwing knives as his primary weapon. No, he was far more comfortable taking his chances in the maze of tunnels than waiting to be trapped in this weyr.


Careful, Mine. Not bothering to see if Cr’oph had left yet, M’ta cracked the door open. He paused, listening. Nothing. The brown rider inched out in a crouch, hands hovering near his throwing knives, but still nothing moved. The bodies still lay where they’d fallen. After another long moment, the short men edged further out into the suspiciously empty hall and eased the door closed behind him.

(OOC: Candidate in this post can be anyone, male or female. I'll just edit later if it's a she. ^^)

[Ruby]

A rude awakening indeed. Futh was up before his Rider, a keen rising in his throat before M'kai was fully alert. Even that, though, was cut off as their ledge was flamed, Futh jumping back as far as he could. Some of his horde had caught fire, pushing the Blue back even further. Mine! FIRE! Futh shouted, panic rising in his mental voice as the flames got higher. His hide, not oiled recently enough, blistered and began to flake on his left shoulder as he tried to push away from the heat. Ysaloth says the Seniors should go now, I have coordinates. All I need is you!

M'kai had managed to pull real pants on over his loose sleeping shorts and shove his feet into boots, then grabbed what was literally a steak knife from next to half an apple he'd been planning to eat for breakfast before vaulting onto Futh, strapless. GO! he shouted, booting the Blue like a runner. Futh didn't need any extra encouragement - by the time M'kai had clamped the knife in his teeth for safekeeping and grabbed on tight to a neckridge, the Blue had unfurled his wings and taken half a leap off the ledge, disappearing as soon as his hindfoot left the ground. With the rest of the invading Wing still busy flaming ledges further down the canyon, they were unlikely to be noticed.

As they reappeared just inches above the canopy, M'kai sucked in a breath. This wasn't the final meeting place, but he would sit tight for a second before moving on. He'd been pretty speedy getting off the ledge, and there was no reason to give away their position with numbers if they could hide out until the attackers moved on. There was time yet... Mine is safe, Mavenath, Futh called, without even waiting for his Rider to ask. Yours? Slanting in for a landing, M'kai wished they had some Firestone. Why would they have a sack in their weyr, though? Nothing to do for it now, Futh still had claws and teeth. Dismounting, M'kai took up a position next to his dragon at the tiny entrance to their clearing, glancing over his shoulder periodically to make sure no one was sneaking up behind him. Behruth, me and Mine are at our initial location. We'll stay hidden until instructed to convene.

Reina's weight on his shoulder made M'kai wince - he was too tightly wound for her to appear like that! - but she clung tight, wrapping a tail around his neck and before flexing the claws of one forepaw. "Reina, get out of here!" he snapped, but she just hissed, flexing all her claws this time. She would stay and protect hers, thank you very much. Suddenly, something horrible occurred to the Weyrlingmaster. "Reina, Futh - where's Bomb?"

---

Unlike most of the Weyr, Tenlie was up. She'd been plagued by nightmares and insomnia since Rajnith's flight - not every night, but at least once or twice she'd woken and been unable to get back to sleep. Mindless tasks like cleaning helped, so she'd been purging her weyr of excess papers, old clothes, bits of broken glass, etc. The chaos outside still caught her by surprise, though, jerking her out of her robotic state. Suddenly alert, she turned towards the ledge at the same time Rajnith did, then jumped back precisely as her Green avoided the flames that spewed over the edge of the ledge. Rajnith?

I have coordinates, from both Behruth and Ysaloth. Are you ready? Taking a deep breath, Ten nodded, then stopped in her tracks. Unlatching the door and pushing it out enough that Ugly Duckling could open it on his own. With a whistle and a mental summons for all of her pets, she whispered, "Stay here, if you can. Ducky, you can push the door open if you have to, but it'll be safest if no one comes in here. Hide, if you can. I'll be back as soon as I can!" Grip wrapped himself around the swan's neck and Big Brother went between to take a place in the hall, offering a security feed of Ten's weyr's safety. With a nod, the Weyrling grabbed her belt of glasscrafting tools - who knew what would come in useful - and clambered up Rajnith's outstretched leg, then placed a hand on the Green's side. Are you ready? We've never jumped from a standstill, and I want to make absolutely sure we come back out.

Rajnith didn't even dignify that with a response, crouching low. Ten took a deep breath and Rajnith took off, opening her wings as far as she could before disappearing, only to reappear a good dragonlenth above the jungle, in an area she didn't recognize beyond the image she'd gotten. Tucking her wings back in, the Green dove below the canopy to clear the sky, stopping only inches above the ground before settling. "Where... where is everyone?" Ten asked, then sighed. Cujo had appeared, attaching himself to the back of her shirt with an incredibly dangerous hiss. I believe we are to wait here, Rajnith confirmed, settling her bulk to the ground so her rider could dismount. I shall check in with Futh.

---

T'mund, on the other hand, was slumped over the book of firelizard biology he'd found, the glows on his desk nearly guttering out and Carenath curled in his lap. Jagjith had perked up at the sound of a keen, matching his voice to the rest of the Weyr's for a split second before slinking as far into the weyr as he could, extending a tongue to lick the back of T'mund's neck. T'mundmine, something drastic has occurred. We have received coordinates, and I believe Ysaloth sacrificed himself to pass the message on. We have been caught unawares - we must retreat and reorganize, so we may protect the Weyrlings and roust the intruders. To do that, I will need you on my back, he added, attempting now to wrap the tongue around he rider's arm.

"Jag... it is way too early for that much vocabulary..." the senior weyrling moaned, twisting away from the slobbery tongue. "Will you stop licking me? I was up nearly all night!"

Jagjith obeyed, but only by pulling his tongue in just long enough to headbutt the chair. It overturned, spilling T'mund and Carenath onto the floor. I will not tolerate delays.

That was the final word on the subject, clearly, and T'mund struggled to his feet, pretty much just flopping over Jagjith's side and holding on. Alright, alright, do whatever. I'll see you when this is all over, he moaned. Jagjith got up with a snort, hopping between with ease; his siblings were his first concern, as other people were clearly taking care of the more important dragons in the Weyr.

[Ember]

The first death keens had Jazz grumbling in her sleep and rolling out of bed. There was a small thump as she hit the floor of her weyr and she groaned. Couldn't they keep it down? Why were they do noisy when they were dyi- oh. "Oh, shit! Dhav, Dhavalth wake up!" The blue already was awake though. He passed the message from Ysaloth and Behruth along in rhyme. Good to know some things never would change. She snatched her flying gear and threw it on as quick as she could. She snatched the now crying Tod and tried to shush her urgently. So not the right time.

"Shh, Tod, shh." Dhavalth let out a startled rumble as flame brushed across his ledge. "Dhav, give me our coordinates again?" Jazheera asked as she got all her weapons together. It was time to go...before she wouldn't be able to. "Remember to be careful Dhavalth. This is a land-to-air jump. Don't put us in a rock or something." Jazz scrambled up onto Dhavalth's neck and used her legs to grip on tight. There would be no straps to help her stay on. Falling off in between was not a very welcome thought.

Jazz left the travel in Dhavalth's claws as she focused only on the point she hoped they'd appear at. She felt both the entryand exit of between. The exit was...terrifying. There was a moment where they simply dropped in the air before Dhavalth could stop their fall. When he lightly touched down among the trees Jazz almost scrambled down to kiss the dirt. Really. "You couldn't have spread your wings more in between?" She snapped. Fear. She was afraid. He crooned an apology before reporting to Behruth as requested. We are ready for people to arrive, and Mine wishes to tell Yours to stay alive.

[heisokufire9]

Death keens woke Connor from his sleep. What the shells is going on? he wondered as he got up and poked his head outside his room. He saw a brownrider directing people down the hall. He wanted to stay and help but they may need him more where the others weyrlings were going. He'd quickly caught onto the fact that the weyr was under attack. He followed the brownrider's directions and managed to reach the clearing relatively quickly. He approached female blue rider.

"Have you seen my younger brother? He impressed at the last hatching." Connor asked worry in his blue eyes. His hot-tempered brother wouldn't do well trapped inside. He realized that these dragons looked older than his brother's and the teen's eyes widened. Oh no! Y'kiro's still back in the weyr?! he thought. That was bad really bad. He'd promised his brother he wouldn't leave him. Shards and shells. he thought crossly begining to panic a bit.

He wanted to go charging back in and get his brother but he knew that would be impossible. I'm sorry Y'kiro. I'll come back as soon as I can. he thought even though he knew his brother couldn't hear him. The raven-haired teen could only hope his brother stayed alive.

[Tashe]

Roaring, Keening, fighting.

Jerking awake as Viveth invaded his mind, E'iah screamed and fought his furs. In a state of panic the Blueweyrling only calmed down when his Blue forced both of them too. We need to go now Mine! Wake! What is happening! An attack, we are all supposed to go and hide in that place. Please Mine, quickly before they see us and decide that we are not useful in anyway. You know they'd do that too and - VIV. This is not the time! "Rishin!" E'iah grabbed Leifa from her pillow and raced toward his neon Dragon. He didn't have time to think about Koulko, the cat would take care of himself. He managed well on his own even with E'iah there, so he'd be fine. Hopefully. Tucking his Flitter into his shirt, the young Rider snatched his jacket in passing causing the stand to tumble over. What the hell. What the hell! Hurry hurry! I have coordinates and we need to go now!

Stepping up onto his bulky Blue's leg, E'iah vaulted onto his neck and slung the jacket around his shoulders, giving his little Green more to hang onto than his skin. He was bleeding but at the moment he didn't care. "Rishin. Stay! Rishin Hide!" The dog skittered away and hid, knowing the command meant she needed to be careful about who she saw. Viveth. Lets go. Since we're jumping like this open your wings so we won't plummet. He felt the Blue's wings snap open. Alright give me the picture. Focusing his mind on the coordinates, he waited. They wouldn't go until Viveth was sure he could concentrate. A moment passed before they were pulled Between. Emerging into the sky was disorientating. For a few seconds they free fell before Viveth was able to slow them down. They ended up landing near T'mund and his Dragon.

Viveth speaking. Behruth we're at the place and waiting.

[Sheari]

FIRE!! DEATH!! WAKE R'MENMINE!!

It had taken next to nothing for the bronzerider to leave his bed and grapple for something...anything...as he tried to focus on something other than the fear that enveloped his mind. Weith had been scared before--who hasn't?-- but never this badly, and it took some stumbling before the man truly grasped what was going on! His bronze was standing in their weyr, taking up a good portion of it, head high and wings half-furled, tail lashing. His copper-bronze body shimmered with flicks of orange as a fire swallowed their ledge. The flames danced and hissed on the rock, feeding on what, neither occupants knew.

Weith, calm down. I'm here, I'm fine...are you burned?[/b] NO, WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE![/i] Weith turned agitatedly, almost like an irritated cat that was cornered. His hide visibly twitched and the bronze nearly jumped when R'men grabbed him and vaulted up to his shoulders. Sitting astride and grabbing a strap that was always around the bronze's neck, he asked Do you know where to go? Behruth told us. The bronze waited for a break in the flames before opening his wings, leaping and disappearing as soon as he felt himself leave the rock walls behind him. Scared as he was, he knew better than to try to between from inside a weyr. The risk was too high; oddly, the bronze feared being trapped in Farnath-knows-what more than he feared his own kind hell bent on killing him.

The frigid void that was between helped clear the dragon's mind, appearing above the clearing that Legatus was gathering at. He eyed Mavenath and quickly landed by him, the larger bronze getting low, but not low enough for R'men to slide off. He may be calmed down some, but he didn't dare get separated from His. The dragon's mind was quiet, the calm stillness of the clearing stark contrast to the fire's and screams of the weyr. He wanted to extend his mind, but he knew the voids he would feel, he didn't want to know the names until this was done.

[Rei]

It didn’t take Lucith long to drop off Z’ves and coil back up into the sky. Darting between wing mates to look for something to sink his claws into the blue crooned. Didn’t anyone want to play with him? The bluerider watched his dragon for a moment before slipping into the stone hallways along with the greenriders he was paired with. Silently they stalked, occasionally breaking off to inspect this weyr or another.

An occasional shout or scream sounded in the hallway but as Z’ves continued it got more and more silent. Perhaps most of them realized by now the futility of their actions? Sad really. He liked the resistance, the blood and pain. Would just have to make some of this own. Lucith’s voice entered his mind then, cold and deadpan as always. Two of our riderless have betweened. Seems there is some resistance. Cold eyes flashed in excitement as a small figure emerged into the hallway, the bluerider ducking back around the corner for a moment and signaling to the two rider’s behind him. K’far and T’rec’s dragons right? Yes.

Peering around the corner Z’ves gave a not so friendly smile. They hadn’t been spotted yet it seemed. Shame on this one, leaving two of their comrades dead, their blood wetting the cold stone floor. The bluerider didn’t particularly care about the death of his comrades. At least not all that much. What excited him more was the fun he could possibly have with this little one.

Where is K'non? He was with them. Kiaranath says he is coming back that way. He has the candidate that got away. Good then he’s bottled. Tell him not to show himself just yet. Stepping around the corner, S'tal and P'ton in tow, Z’ves cleared his throat. “Drop the weapons!” As he spoke he stepped closer to S‘tal prepared to use him as a shield if the need arose. Startling someone who used ranged weapons was never a good idea. “I would. Just that's assuming you want yourself and the candidate to live.” By that time K’non had rounded the corner with a knife pressed to the frightened candidate's throat, the young teen made the perfect human shield.

“If not feel free to act on stupidity.” A cold smile was given M’ta.

~~~

Cr’oph had been awake since the first keen sounded. M’ta’s entrance greeted with a flash of steel before the words registered and the red head sheathed the blade. The bronzer gave no words just a silent nod of the head in thanks before he made his way over to the waiting Mavenath, Jiggles tucked safely into his shirt. Wasting no time in vaulting into place he focused on the sent coordinates before the large bronze flared his wings and they leapt from a standstill. At least he could thank S’rei for that much if not more.

Emerging into open air the bronze quickly landed in the clearing amongst the rest of Legatus and a small spattering of others. Craning his neck he snorted. Futh. Both mine and I are safe. For how much longer remained to be seen. It was quickly turning into a big grouping. They would have to leave soon to prevent being detected, in case the invaders where running sweeps of the surrounding jungle areas. Cr’oph tightened his grip on his weapon. M’kai was fine. But that still left X’rx and a spattering of others including Syrene and the rest of his class. Wetting his lips he turned to try and catch the eye of some of the others in the clearing. What now?

There is nothing you can do for them now. We merely wait.

~~~

Alright, this post is mainly for M’ta. If anyone wants to be suicidal and help feel free >> lol

If you have not posted your weyrling, candidate, or weyrfolk evacuee and wish to do so. Please do it as quickly as poss. ^^

For those already betweened. ~ Feel free to continue with reactions if you want, have some Npc candidates ect make it to your dragon’s if none appear, ect. If you have posted your weyrling as evac and do not wish to post further you do not have to.

Consider your debt filled ^^

Those I consider currently evacuated

M’kai and Futh
Tenlie and Rajnith
T’mud and Jagjith
R’ven and Trilaranth
Cr’oph and Mavenath
Jazz and Dhavalth
Candidate Connor
E’iah and Viveth
R’men and Weith
Kalerary and Chandath
K'fuzzi and Balath
Ruliana and Amalath APC
Candidate Isori
C'oar and Frosstyth

[rii]

Through the halls he moved, an arrow loosening here and there to stop a fight from drawing on longer than necessary. He was careful, putting his skills to work in the way he chose his shots. He immobilized those that wanted to fight, forcing them into surrendering. So far he had only taken two lives of those that refused to comply to the simple concept. It was silly, to fight it, the take over was happening no matter what they did. They had lost. The sooner they accepted this, the sooner they could get on with their lives..

Ba'sun slid to a halt, right foot stretching in front of himself to keep balance as he took in the group that had just rounded the corner. Two women, one holding a child in her arms and another by the hand. They all stared at him, the blood on his clothes and the arrow ready to fire in their direction. Weyrfolk - from the creche by the looks of it. Ba'sun's eyes narrowed as he firmed his fingers around the arrow shaft. He quickly glanced around them, this section of hallway mostly clear since it had been away from the weyrs.

Gesturing with his bow, Ba'sun sharply jerked his chin to the side. "Go."

An uncertain glance went between the women, drawing forth a growl from the bluerider. "Go. Run and don't stop."

Only when they started moving again did Ba'sun turn up the hallway, working back toward the main pathways and the escapees he was suppose to be rounding up. Didn't see those ones boss, they snuck right by. He came upon the two bodies, quickly putting face to the one responsible for the throwing knives deeply embedded into his fellow Bendenites. Ba'asun cautiously eased a glance around the corner – didn't want to found flat footed around the knife thrower.

Ahead, Z'ves with two henchmen and.. kid.. damn. Ba'sun squinted past them at M'ta. Don't be stupid, he mentally willed to the brownrider. Just surrender. His fingers began to pull back the bow string, a fresh arrow already in place as he gauged the distance and angle of the shot from where he remained concealed around the stone corner.

[Requiem]

The little boy slipped through the nearly empty halls, padding softly. The creche had been empty. He needed to go back to K'lir. Wanted him, with a dull ache in his throat. K'lir or Daddy, but the woman said he'd gone far for work. That was early this morning when he came to find Reiscia. He'd promised. Clutching the small bundle, the blessedly silent bundle, to his chest, he peered around the corner. The baby was still sleeping. Sleep, little baby, and don't see. He wanted to be blind like K'lir. Then he wouldn't have to see, either.

But blind men couldn't take care of little babies. Neither could little boys. He didn't know where to take Shoal. Bloody footprints followed Miguel as he stole down another hallway that had been familiar and friendly just yesterday. Now it seemed like he was in a monster's gullet. The bundle was smeared with the same blood that coated much of Miguel's clothing, but the small face had been cleaned. It shone.

Hearing something ahead, he paused, then saw the women. Babies and kids. They had children. They would take care of Shoal. Miguel quickened his pace to overtake them, but then he saw the other figure and melted into a doorway, trembling. No. Please. They were just trying to help. But the man that he recognized as the sandman waved them on. Miguel blinked, then looked down at Shoal. The baby could not tell him what to do. He glanced back up and crept after Ba'sun, wary of any more men. Should he...? But Ba'sun had helped the others, and Miguel wasn't finding anyone. Shoal was just a baby. His cousin. Like Reiscia and Silas had been...He wanted his Daddy. And Lord. Closing his eyes, Miguel thought for another moment, then took a few steps forward and tugged lightly on Ba'sun's pant leg.

"Please," he murmured, afraid to speak too loud because of the voices further down the hall. "Help him. Please..." Miguel lifted Shoal, offering him to the bluerider.

---

Futh. We have run into a snag, Behruth informed the blue calmly. He'd coiled with Checkoth as much as he could, but the male kept anything from his voice that might have distressed the younger dragons he was working with. He still had work to do. Rajnith, Jagjith, Dhavalth, Viveth, Chandath, Balath and Amalath are all in place. Also...tell Ciceroth that they need to move. Soon. Make sure he knows not to tell me where. He brushed Dhavalth's mind in reassurance. Mine has much to live for. Yours need not worry. A kindly lie, perhaps, but His would do his best to survive, and there was no point in distressing the weyrlingpair when things were already this unsettled. Calm was needed.

They were behind him. He'd noticed them, just before the rider spoke. It was convenient, having them at his back; three blades were already held lightly between fingers, ready, concealed by his body. A twist, and in five seconds he'd have three more men bleeding. Likely dead. Then he'd be playing rat in a cage, trying to stay ahead of them, but...Legatus was being hunted anyway. He wasn't stupid, and he wasn't ready to die. Movement in front of him, and he hissed audibly. The boy had claimed to be fast. Clearly not fast enough. M'ta considered it anyway, even knowing that the teen would die, but time was passing too quickly. They were trapping him. How many more?

He dropped the three between his fingers, straightening to his full - and admittedly insignificant - height. Blades began to rain down. First the belt that crossed his chest with the rest of his throwing knives. Then the belt slung over his hips with the belt knife and the throwing stars his weyrmate had given him. The dirk strapped to his thigh was next. Still bent, he pulled a sheath from his boot. For a moment, he considered keeping the last two, but that was dismissed. They'd likely find them...if they didn't kill him outright. He tugged off his shirt and unbuckled the last two belts. The sheath nestled between shoulderblades and the smaller at the small of his back both joined the pile.

Half-turning toward the bluerider so he could watch all of the men around him, the lean man spread his hands in front of him. His eyes locked with those of Z'ves. "The kid was only running. The blades will match mine." Most likely they already knew those deaths weren't on the candidate's hands, but...M'ta had to try, at least, to protect the kid. He'd promised as much, hadn't he? His eyes flicked to the shirt on the ground near the pile of knives, and he raised a brow in silent questioning. The brownrider felt a bit exposed, between the scarring beneath his clavicle, the collar he wore to conceal the nastier scar from the knife that had slashed his throat, and the nipple piercing. Really should've taken that out earlier but...well he never really did. R'wign liked it. No, he didn't really expect the enemy rider to let him put the shirt back on, but it didn't hurt to ask.

[Ruby]

In the clearing, Futh shifted, opening his mind to His to share Behruth's words. A snag? That didn't sound good at all, but it was good to know that most of the Weyrlings were in place. Not all - M'kai refused to think about who was missing - but most. Affirmative, Behruth. I'll check in when we've moved. Changing the direction of his call, he contacted the Weyrsecond with just a touch of apprehension. Weyrsecond: Behruth says the Sr. Weyrlings need to move, soon. And to make sure you don't tell him where.

Whether Ciceroth got the message or not, Futh didn't know. Another voice entered his mind just seconds later, conveying the information the Blue needed. Futh, this is Ismaroth. If you have not heard, Behruth's has been captured. These are your new coordinates get all under your charge to jump there immediately. Once you reach the clearing, everyone is to get under tree cover and waste no time.

Affirmative, Ismaroth, we're going, Futh called back, adding Ciceroth and Behruth to the loop while His held the coordinates out of the way. Once that connection was severed, the pair passed the coordinates back and forth three times, making sure they were correct. Only then did they carefully pass them on to the Weyrlings, one at a time. This was no time to make mistakes, especially since no one seemed to have been discovered yet. Rajnith, you first. Pass the coordinates back before you jump, please...

Once the last Sr. Weyrling was clear, M'kai had Futh push the coordinates on to those who were missing: Kamath, Madhavath, Upasanath. Just in case. Another minute... two minutes... three... he had to go. Between.

---

Caden didn't quite know how this had happened. Trapped, bleeding, used as a shield, her razor lost - It was time to start over and figure this out, so she could figure out how not to die and/or get the Selenitas Brownrider killed.

So, from the beginning...

"Me? Fast enough," she'd hissed, keeping her voice as low and boyish as possible. She'd been up before daybreak, some sixth sense niggling. Smath would have known what was bothering her; known, and shamed and teased her into relaxing. You were a bad fighter and a poor marksman when you were nervous, that Caden knew in her bones. But she couldn't shake it this morning, so she'd started pacing the hallways, looking for something amiss. Sure, she was probably out of bounds, not to mention breaking curfew, but for once she wasn't worried. Or, more accurately, she was worried about potentially more important things. She would, of course, take her punishment and execute it to the best of her abilities.

The keen proved her right, and Caden had immediately melted into the shadows, checking her back pocket for the wickedly sharp straight razor she kept there. M'ta was the first one to round the corner, and she recognized the Brownrider as familiar, even if she didn't know his name. She'd slid out from her hiding place, hissing, "Can I help?"

Within moments she'd been flitting down the halls toward the Weyrling's location, but footsteps behind her drove her into a full-out sprint. She would have kept running, banging and shouting instructions on doors till they cut her down where she stood - but something hissed through the air to her left and sliced into the flesh of her upper arm. Flight was no longer an option - whether Benden or Fort, these riders weren't here to capture. Not her, anyway, a refugee from both camps. She'd spun on the remaining chaser with a feral grin, not worried about the other two, dying on the floor. Razor instantly in hand, she'd gone for the Rider's throat with abandon, forgetting her injured arm. It was that which did her in, her fingers refusing to close on the collar so she could slit a throat. The struggle had been short, from there, him so much bigger and stronger...[/color]

So here she was, at knifepoint instead of dead as she'd expected, her left arm near useless and her right not much better. The knuckles on her right hand were bruised and nerveless, a product of the method her captor had used to get her to release the razor, plus the Rider had it twisted up behind her, shoving her back away from him to keep the knife tight on her throat. Big eyes tried to convey her sorrow and embarrassment at failure to M'ta - just as a subtle shift of her hips showed she wasn't weaponless yet, that even though she didn't have all the parts necessary to be the man she appeared she knew what kind of kicks made them hurt. All she needed was a sign of resistance, and she'd kick up and backwards, throwing the rider over her shoulder if she could. She wasn't about to move without M'ta's orders, though, and for now it looked like he was surrendering.

[Rei]

Z’ves calmly stood by as the brownrider complied with his wishes. Pity really, no one wanted to be stupid. Now very uninteresting. All the while the man was wracking his brain to try to put name to face. M’ta of Behruth? Yes that was it. The description fit. A slow smile spread across his features. How lucky for him. One of Legatus. An eyebrow slowly rose at the sheer amount of weapons the small man shed. Didn’t pack lightly did he? When the brownrider had finished he jerked his head at P’ton.

“Search and bind him please.” His eyes went to Caden then. He had noticed her subtle shift of weight during the stillness. A sneering smile was give to her. “I’d stay still if I where you worm. K’non would have no issues with breaking you and ‘M’ta’ here would love your cooperation I am sure. He decided to spare your life. Least you can do is do him the same courtesy.” A charming smile flashed to the candidate before he turned back to the Legatus rider, his expression falling back to stoic calm.

As he finished the search P’ton grabbed the wrists of the smaller man and, jerking them behind the brownrider, swiftly and effectively bound them. Finished he drew his knife and kept the other hand on the bindings before nodding sharply to Z’ves. Motioning for S’tal to stay put the bluerider stepped up to M’ta and absently flicked the nipple piercing. Much better without a shirt, sorry little man.

Cold blue eyes met M’ta’s, the expression default calm, although amusement burned just beneath the surface. “I’m sure the interrogators would love to know many, many things about your wing and how they operate. I suggest you save us all the trip and tell me a few things now.” He let his hand wander a bit over the other’s chest purely to see what reaction he might get. “Where are the Legatus dragons? I’m sure you have coordinates. Do share.” A friendly smile was given the brownrider as Z’ves slowly traced a finger around the piercing. Oh how he hoped the answer was a refusal.

[rii]

Ba'sun was keenly watching the actions between the riders, ready to react when the time called for it. Only – a tug at his sleeve – the bluerider quickly snapped his attention downward. Surprised because he hadn't heard anyone approaching. The site of the bloody child made him press further against the stone wall, dark eyes widening as the back flashes, eight years in the past, came unbidden. Ba'sun nearly dropped his bow as the tremble traveled down his limbs. He licked at lips that had suddenly gone dry, his voice shaking out a single name. "Bo..?"

He could recall it all so clearly; the screaming from the hallway that drew him out of his weyr ready for a fight only to find the small crowd around the distress young dragon and the nine year old boy curled in on himself on the floor, surrounded and coated in his own blood. His son. His son. Ba'sun didn't remember picking him up, or the run to the infirmary, only that desperate look in his son's eyes that pleaded for help and comfort. Little different than the way Miguel looked up at him from underneath all the freshly spilled blood.

The arrow twirled in fingers, flipping around to be placed back into the quiver with a practiced ease. Ba'sun knelt, his bow finding the floor as he reached for the boy. Mindlessly grabbing for the left arm first, but under his fingers he found it whole. Ba'sun wasn't even listening to the boy's words, instead swiftly checking him over for injuries to explain at the blood. So much blood.

Ba'sun knew this wasn't his son, fondly nicknamed Bo, but his eyes still stung with the memories as he regained his grip on reality. The bundled blanket was accepted without question, a second later the bluerider pulling aside the fold to make sure the babe wasn't hurt. Neither seemed to be injured – whose blood covered them both? This was.. was.. S'rei's kids. Both of them. As Miguel moved to leave, in the wrong direction at that, Ba'sun's hand snapped out to seize his arm.

"No," The word stern, and Ba'sun instinctively looked at the nearby corner in worry that he had been overheard by those in the hallway. Hopefully they would be too distracted with their own tasks. "You need to go. They can't find you here." They'd have no mercy for the spawn of the former weyrleader. "The women that just went by, this hall–" He was leading Miguel at this point, a brisk pace, he thrust Miguel in front of him to try and spur him into running. "Go. You need to leave, now. Catch up to the others before it's too late. Run."

All the while Ba'sun held the sleeping Shoal protectively to his chest, the man was no stranger to holding and caring for children.

[Requiem]

He forced himself lax as the man ran his hands over him, rather amused in a somewhat dark fashion that they'd think he had more hidden on his body after all that. He nudged at his boots with his toes until they slipped off. See? Helpful. Searching and binding meant he wasn't going to be killed outright, and his mind had slipped into the problem of staying alive. They knew his name, if not how to correctly pronounce it. Eyes slitted slightly. They've moved already? They've been told to, Behruth offered tentatively. I can delay some, but they'll be persistent. If they knew him by name this was going to get...interesting. Hopefully their information wasn't terribly detailed. He could deal with just being a name on a list of people with Legatus.

M'ta's eyes met Caden's, and Behruth reluctantly reached out to touch her mind. Mine wishes you to take any opportunity you have. They won't kill him just to prove a point. He addressed M'ta with a touch of anger. Any other things you want me to tell people that'll get you hurt or killed. I just love doing it. The brownrider stumbled back slightly as his arms were jerked behind him, eyes falling downward. He merely sent a pulse of reassurance to 'Ruth. It wouldn't change much if the candidate got away, not really. If he was wrong, he was wrong, but at least he could take some measure of solace in that they'd be getting rid of one of their only chances to find Legatus. Which was slim anyway.

Steel. He widened his stance slightly and watched Z'ves' approach. Went straight for the pierced nipple. M'ta wasn't terribly surprised, though it sent his mind scurrying down twisted dark paths of memory and he grabbed hold of Behruth. The touch had him shrinking back further, into the man holding him with a baring of teeth, dark eyes flashing. The brownrider's issue with men touching him had faded some with R'wign, but this was exactly the sort of thing that had caused it in the first place. He didn't need his common sense to know the maliciousness behind the touch, even if it was still gentle.

"I don't have them," he stated quietly. His body was tense beneath the man's touch since he had no further to back up. "They moved the moment I was caught, and didn't pass the coordinates on to us." A flash of a defiant smile. "I'll give you something for free. You mispronounced my name. It's pronounced Mmtuh."

---

He'd taken the child. Such a flood of relief went through Miguel that the boy nearly began to cry, but his eyes were too dry to cry, he found. That was good. Crying was not something boys did. The crechemothers said it all the time when boys began to tear up, and he believed them. The sandman was checking Shoal, and the six-turn-old took that opportunity to start slinking back the way he'd come, to find K'lir. He wouldn't go anywhere without the greenrider. He just wouldn't. There was no one else he knew, no where else that he'd at last be safe, and...

The hand grasped his arm and he jumped, blue eyes focusing wide on Ba'sun. No? No! He wasn't leaving now without K'lir! He thrashed in the bluerider's grip, trying to worm his way free with every trick his young mind could contrive. Then he was being thrust ahead and told to run. Miguel could do that. He could definitely do that. The boy even ran off in the direction the sandman seemed to want him to go, until he got to an adjoining corridor, which he ducked down, running even faster. No one was going to catch him now. Miguel started taking random turns in case the man followed. Finally, he slowed, creeping along toward K'lir's hall. He wouldn't leave without him.

[Ruby]

Caden kept her mouth shut, simply nodding sharply at Z'ves. This was one of those times where it was FAR better to be a boy than a girl, and her loose clothes and skeletal frame hid her true gender well enough. They might figure it out if they patted her down, or had her remove her shirt, but until then she wasn't going to give anything away with something so simple as an unchanged voice. After the nod, she kept completely still, loath to disobey even such a minor suggestion. She didn't want anyone dead if it could be avoided... not yet, at least. If they were Benden or Fort - they certainly sounded Benden - and found out she was dragonless and a runaway slave they'd kill her, and she didn't want M'ta to die just for that.

Behruth's invasion made her shiver, though, as much as she tried to suppress it. She tried to keep her head from jerking around to look for Smath, turning the full movement into a little twitch, but still, it was a sudden movement. The dragon's words were given a sharp affirmative - she'd go if she could, but there was no reason to resist when she had nowhere to go, no weapon with which to make her escape. She might have been able to grab some of the knives now littering the floor, but fast enough to take out both men, especially with an injured arm? So this was not a chance, not a good one, anyway.

Instead, she kept her head up, stretching her neck as far as she could to keep the pricking blade at her throat from drawing blood, keeping Sel in the Barracks by sheer force of will and scanning the situation for an exit strategy. While the others were distracted, something caught her ear - she quieted her breathing, trying to pick up what was going on. Light footsteps, a vague whisper, another padding step. Hmmm, that might be an option, but Caden needed more information before she moved. For now, she was a prisoner.