Betrayer! (Tags Jaymith) [WIDE OPEN]

[Rei]

Ebolath pranced as she made for the rain swollen river to wash off a promising rock held tightly in her jaws. She padded softly through the now tall grass on the river's side and dropped the rock into the water. She watched with swirling green eyes as the dirt left the stone. Rolling it around for a bit, and finding it not near good enough, she left it where it lay. The small green gave a huff and flopped ungracefully down at the river’s edge to watch the fish dance in the current. A small pressure on her mind alerted her to the approach of Vega and the little flitter appeared from between to alight on his sister’s back.

Turning her head, Ebolath crooned softly to him and he responded with a trill of his own. The small flitter flapped his wings and nervously inserted the requested image into her mind making Ebolath's eyes shoot from passive green to angry red in a matter of minutes. The green rose and praised her brother for his help, sending him back to hers while she slipped quietly into the grass. Ebolath made for the section of river Vega had shown her. Her quarry was there sunning and she intended to punish him for his betrayal.

Coming close to her intended target Ebolath stayed low to the ground, unconsciously stalking Jaymith like a feline stalks a wherrie through high grass. Her jaws parted in a feral snarl but no noise was heard except for, perhaps, her quickened breathing. She crouched, tail tip twitching, as she waited for the right moment to spring.

As Jaymith rose to cool himself in the water she leapt from the brush with a feral snarl, lunging for his flank. Her trajectory however was slightly off, and she latched onto the top part of his tail instead. Her unsheathed claws scrambled for a purchase in his thigh as her fangs sank deep into his hide. Warm ichor flooded her mouth and the green snarled around it, causing the fluid to bubble up around her maw. Betrayer!

[nightingale]

A low, steady groan of contentment drifted from Jaymith’s throat as he lay sunning on the riverbank, the sound not entirely unlike a feline’s purr. He shifted his bulk ever so slightly, relishing the warm sand scratching against his glowing bronze hide as he rolled onto his back. Today, the sun seemed more genuine than it had been during the drought. It’s heat seemed just a little richer, it’s light just a little more dazzling as it danced across the shiny jungle leaves -and so long as His was busy scrubbing the bottoms of boats, the little bronze was more than happy to spend his time using it to enhance the already aureate glow of his hide.

Hmmm...but the sun was getting rather hot now that high noon was approaching. It was beginning to burn more than warm him...and he had managed to get himself quite dusty as well. Perhaps he should have a little bit of a swim now, to make his evening bath a little easier for Ke’rin-His. Groaning purposefully as he rolled over and climbed to his feet the weyrling gave himself a little shake to dislodge what sand he could.
He then started toward the river’s edge, when quite out of nowhere he heard snarl resonating amongst the trees. His eyes flashed golden as her jerked his great bronze head toward the source of the noise. Jaymith felt the teeth stabbing into his tail before he recognized his attacker as Ebolath, and so jerked the little green roughly around in a half-circle, trying to dislodge her with a bellow of rage.

Ebolath, what is wrong with you?!

He demanded with a low keen, willing himself motionless as he suddenly recognized her for who she was. He fixed her with a hard stare, head low to the ground. His breathing was raspy as he fought back the urge to voice his pain. The bronzeweyrling might have been large, but his baby-soft hide was still delicate and easily torn. He ignored the urgent pressing of his rider’s mind against his own. This was a matter between dragons, and the presence of His would only serve to complicate things further.

[Rei]

Ebolath’s snarl turned into a squeal as Jaymith heaved his bulk around. Luckily for him, Ebolath’s teeth did not have a firm grip or she may have just taken a piece of his hide with her as she went sprawling into the dirt. The small green rolled over completely once from the force of the throw but picked herself up quickly. Shaking the dust from her green and red hide she advanced, head low like his, snarling and hissing. Jaymith’s ichor dripped from her muzzle onto the dirt. Ebolath, what is wrong with you?!

His words registered and she hissed menacingly in response. Betrayer! You are no brother of mine! You hurt me and stopped me from protecting what is mine. I will teach you to respect what is not yours. You throw yourself around like your better and everyone should listen to you. The enraged green flung herself at her bronze clutch sibling aiming for his neck with her teeth as her tail whipped around to smack into his wound with a wet slap.

Raylin’s head shot up as Ebolath’s anger filtered into her. She flinched at the raw hurt and burning rage she felt emanating from her normally sweet mind mate. Ebolath? She was effectively ignored which worried her all the more. Suddenly Vega burst from between keening. He swung around his bonded and alighted on her shoulder, keeping his wings unfurled for fast take off, as he broadcast an image of the dueling weyrling dragons.

Raylin gasped in horror and Vega launched from her shoulder to lead at her request. The girl sprinted after her small flitter all the while battering at Ebolath’s minds with commands. Are you crazy! Ebolath stop at once! The small green however, ignored her bonded although, the dark haired girl could feel a faint apologetic felling also. What in Faranth’s name was going on?

[nightingale]

Both of Ebolath’s hits connected solidly, for really how could she miss an unmoving target of Jaymith’s size? A pained bellow broke from the bronzeweyrling’s maw as her teeth clasped the muscles of his neck in a vicious embrace, dark green ichor dribbling from the puncture wounds created therein. His body twitched convulsively, begging him to take some action against his tormentor, but the little bronze held fast and still. He would not hurt Ebolath any sooner than he would hurt his own.

Ebolath, release me.

He told her firmly, his mental voice nothing sort of a pained gasp. One of his front claws was beginning to slide hazardously in the puddle of copper-laced blood forming at his feet, and he carefully lifted it, placing it safely on a dry patch of earth. Down the beach, Ke’rin was almost paralyzed by the pain flowing to him through the link he shared with Jaymith. Something was hurting his dragon -he couldn’t get over how enraged and terrified that knowledge made him feel. Someone was hurting his dragon! He knew that he needed to find the weyrling, but to was all he could do to stumble to his feet as the little bronze continually pushed their minds apart.

Lamb trilled her anxiety from atop the boy’s shoulder, rubbing her little green face against his neck in a gesture clearly meant to comfort him as much as it did her. Oh, so scary! Brother Jaymith was not well! Oh no, not well at all! She would get Rascal? Her Rascal would help them, surely? Jaymith, what is going on? The boy demanded, clinging to a nearby tree as he tried to keep his vision clear. I am sorry Mine, but I will not strike out at her. Strike out at who? Jaymith? Jaymith answer me!

[Rei]

Ebolath, release me. The pain filled tone of Jaymith’s voice was noticed and just as promptly ignored. Ebolath shook her head once and then let go, landing with a thud she sidled away from the bigger dragon. The green drug her feet through the ichor stained dust. Her eyes whirling in a confusing shade of red and yellow. Why did he not retaliate. Now wholly confused she paused, allowing her anger to recede slightly. The coppery taste of ichor still filling her mouth.

Ebolath titlted her head but kept her body ridged, just in case she had to move. Do you regret your actions Jaymith? You should not have tried to keep me from mine. I would never keep you from yours. You hurt me. Her voice held a plaintive note as if she sought acceptance, or at least acknowledgement, that for once the bronze had done wrong. If he replied negatively she was not above punishing him again.

Raylin could feel that she was getting closer to the green, Vega spurring her on with worried thoughts of his own. She felt no physical pain from Ebolath which confused the weyrling. Surely Ebolath could not win a fight against a large bronze. Perhaps she was to quick for him? Jaymith was growing much larger than the rest of his siblings. Although to be fair he was a bronze and they tended to be bigger as a whole than the other colorations.

[nightingale]

I will not regret them Ebolath.

The bronze stated firmly, chest heaving as the stabbing pain in his neck and tail began to fade into a dull, throbbing ache. His stained tail had begun to grow tacky with dried ichor, but the thirsty ground was still able to sate itself on the blood trickling from his neck

I did what was necessary. You were panicking, and in that state of panic you hurt Mine, who was only trying to keep Yours from going Between. Were it to happen again I would take the same actions without hesitation. Jaymith, tell me what's going on! Ebolath and I are talking mine. Do not be concerned. How can I not be concerned?! Jaymith, you’re hurt and you’re blocking me out!

“Lamb, talk to Vega. Ask Raylin what’s going on with Ebolath.”

The boy ordered breathlessly as he staggered along the riverbank, trying not to trip over the driftwood and stones that seemed to leap tauntingly into his path. The tiny green flitter warbled her acquiescence, and reached out from her place on the boy’s shoulder to brush against Vega’s mind. Vega, oh her lovely blue Vega! What was so very wrong with green Ebolath? Brother Jaymith said that they were talking, but surely he would not be in such pain if that were so? Oh he must tell her what was wrong!

[Rei]

Ebolath listened quietly as Jaymith spoke. When he had finished she hissed angrily and began to advance. You think I would hurt yours! That is stupid. I was only protecting mine. I would never keep you from yours. With that she launched herself at him again this time pouncing on his thigh. Clinging on with front claws, she bit down on his upper thigh and began to shake her head much like a canine shakes a toy. Ichor flooded her mouth and she let go bouncing back only to advance again.

Raylin burst into the clearing then and stopped dead in her tracks. Horror filled her eyes at the scene before her. Jaymith bleeding and quite obviously in pain while her sweet little dragon attacked him with a fury she had never witnessed. If she had not seen it herself Raylin would never have believed her sweet little dragon was capable of such violence. “Ebolath! No!” She ran towards the dueling dragons completely realizing the stupidity of such an action. She had to stop her dragon before she caused Jaymith permanent damage.

Vega stiffened as Lamb’s mind brushed against his own. He completely disregarded any pleasantries and flooded her mind with images of the attacking Ebolath and bleeding Jaymith. Flaring his wings he added that his was here, and was now trying to stop Ebolath from causing any more harm. A dragon healer would be needed for Jaymith if she would like to fetch one. The pale flitter immediately pushed his mind away from hers after that and fluttered into a nearby tree where he could observe without causing trouble.

[nightingale]

The bronzeweyrling tensed as Ebolath's ichor-stained jaws opened to voice the anger whirling in her eyes. He had time only to brace himself before she struck again, ripping another throaty bellow of pain from his ravaged bulk. Again he willed himself motionless, his labored breathing peppered with gasps and groans as he tried not to think about the pain. No matter what she did, attacking Ebolath simply wasn't an option. It was his born duty to protect the dragons of his Weyr, even if that meant protecting them from his own sense of self preservation. He would not harm her.

“Jaymith!”

The young man’s voice punctured the jungle foliage, and an instant later he crashed into sight. For a moment, Ke’rin could only bring himself to stare, numbly wondering why the sand was so dark. He knew what was going on, of course -Lamb had relayed Vega’s images faithfully to him- but he was in complete denial of it. Ebolath would never...she just couldn’t! If Raylin’s approaching the quarreling beasts was foolish, Ke’rin was properly suicidal as he cleared the distance between Jaymith and himself, pressing himself like a tiny human shield against the dragon’s foreleg.

“Ebolath stop this, please!” Mine, do not stand there. Ebolath demands satisfaction. I must allow her that much. Satisfaction? By tearing you apart?! I have hurt her Ke’rin-Mine, and so she hurts me. “Raylin please, call her off!” The boy screamed desperately, oblivious to weather or not the greenrider had such authority over her dragon. Lamb warbled her terror, wrapping herself about the boy's neck like a vibrating necklace which refused to leave him. Right now, Kei didn't understand anything. Ebolath had always been such a sweet natured little thing. What on all of Pern could have come over her?

[ravenmane]

The pair had been relaxing the the sun, a rare chance with all the rain, when Triniath sharply raised his head and stared at a place farther up river. He had "heard" the anger of Ebolath, not because he liked to eavesdrop, but because the quiet Brown was much more tuned to his surrounding than another dragon might be. What is it, Trin. Two Hatchlings fight. We must stop them before anything else happens. Triniath crouched for a few precious seconds to allow His to mount before the Brown ran a few steps and launched himself in the air.

How do you know a pair of Hatchling are fighting? I can hear the anger and distress coming from them. They are young and do not know how to mask their thoughts and feelings from other dragons. The Brown replied quietly as he soared above the river. Sk'ler remained tense as his dragon flew as quickly as he could. When the Brown had located the pair, Sk'ler was shocked at what he saw. A small Green from the most recent Hatching was tearing at her larger clutchbrother, and the young Bronze didn't bother to stop her. Stop them now, Trin. The Bronze is covered in ichor. Sk'ler spoke with horror.

STOP IT, EBOLATH! Triniath roared into her mind as he landed carefully so he could avoid the two humans bonded to the Hatchlings. You will release young Jaymith now and tell me why you have decided to act him like a barbaric Northern dragon would have. The normally quiet and gentle Brown was furious to witness one of Selenitas's one Weyrlings attack her sibling. Only dragons in the North did such things, and they were barbarians in both Triniath's and Sk'ler's minds. Without allowing his rider time to even dismount, the Brown moved closer to the Hatchlings and leaned down to pluck Ke'rin off of Jaymith and plopped him on the ground nearby. Stay. Trin instructed as he nudged the boy before he turned to Raylin and did the same.

Sk'ler finally managed to get off his dragon, and rushed to Jaymith's side. He may not be a DragonHealer, but he had dealt with maulings to herdbeasts when he had been a kid. Now, he set to work tearing apart his shirt to put some binding on the worst of the wounds. Trin, get a healer here now please. A DragonHealer is greatly needed. Weyrling Ebolath attacked her clutchbrother, Jaymith, and he is now bleeding heavily. With the words, Triniath sent a mental image of the group's location to any Healer he had managed to contact.

[Rei]

“Sharding Faranth Ke’rin what do you think I have been trying to do!” She yelled back exasperated. Ebolath’s emotions whirled through her, mixing with her own, and it was hard to distance herself from one she was so in tune with. Ebolath had paused at Ke’rin’s entrance unwilling to harm a human. She took a half step back, red eyes now mixing with a concerned yellow. She flinched and jumped backwards as an angry voice that was neither Jaymith’s, His, or Hers entered her mind. STOP IT, EBOLATH!

The green obeyed immediately sitting upon her haunches her eyes how shot with yellow and an intense upset orange. You will release young Jaymith now and tell me why you have decided to act him like a barbaric Northern dragon would have. A whimpering keen escaped the young green at being berated so, and she dropped her head in shame. Ebolath lifted her head to stare miserably up at the older brown. He had kept me from mine. I was punishing him for it.

Raylin allowed the large dragon to nudge her towards Ke’rin. She longed to go comfort her mind mate but who in their right mind argued with a beast as large as Triniath? Instead she reached out mentally to her small green. It is ok love. I won’t let them hurt you. You really should not have attacked Jaymith so love. If you were mad at him you should have told me. I won’t make you talk or interact with Jaymith ever again if you don’t want to. Just please stop hurting him ok? Ebolath gave another whimper. She had upset everyone around her. It made the little green want to curl up and disappear.

[nightingale]

Kei couldn’t really bring himself to fight against the teeth he suddenly felt tugging on the back of his shirt. He only stared dumbly as Triniath set him down and warned him to stay put. Pale and trembling, the boy watched with intent conern as Sk’ler set about stanching the flow of ichor from Jaymith's wounds.

Mine I am here. I am alright. The little bronze crooned weakly, trying to minimize the way the vibration of sound in his throat make his neck burn. His dull golden eyes held the pale blue of his rider’s in a soundless, mental embrace. He hurt, yes, but he promised that he was not going anywhere. Lamb offered a soft, reassuring croon to the boy, snuggling even closer against his throat and vibrating at a soothing frequency. Kei’s breath snagged in his throat as the little bronze dropped his gaze to the brownrider at his side, but the mild shock allowed him to recognize Raylin sitting next to him.

“What happened?”

He murmured numbly, thinking that perhaps Ebolath had explained the situation more clearly to her than Jaymith had to him. The boy tugged his knees up against his chest, staring blankly at the grass as he clung to the edges of his dragon's mind. He wanted to be there at his side, but at the same time knew he would best serve his companion by distancing himself until things settled down...but shard it all it it didn't hurt.

The bronze held his silence through Ebolath’s explanation and the searing pain of cloth being secured over the open wound in his neck. The weyrling might have been the biggest of his clutch, but he was still only slightly taller than a runner at the shoulder, meaning that the bandage was sufficiently large to serve it’s intended purpose. He pressed gently against Ke’rin-His’s mind, reassuring the boy and his younger sister that he was still there as he waited for the older dragon to speak.

[hseru]

His night shift at the infirmary had ended only a scant handful of hours ago, late at that, and as such, S'lain was tucked into bed and sound asleep when Jaxith received the request for a dragonhealer from Triniath. The big blue slid away from the edge of their weyr, away from his lovely sunlight and back to where His slept. Nudging him none too gently, he relayed the message to his groggy rider. Well used to being woken at all hours due to his secondary profession, S'lain was awake and mentally capable in minutes, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he gained an image of the scene from Jaxith. "Shards" He swore quietly. The small bronze was losing a lot of blood from those gashes, but the amount was not life-threatening. He'd need stitches for certain though, just to make everything heal without some painful puckering and to hold infection at bay.

"Jaxi, tell them we're coming. Also, tell whoever you can reach at the infirmary to have a bag prepared for immediate pickup for a serious injury requiring sutures for a young dragon." The blue obeyed, turning to face the opening in their weyr to make it easier for S'lain to attach his flight straps.

Triniath, a dragonhealer will be arriving shortly. Keep the Weyrlings calm.

Throwing on the closest shirt he could find -one that was still rumpled from the previous night- S'lain finally vaulted from the offered foreleg up to his seat, strapping himself in before giving Jaxith the go ahead. "Swing into a quick landing at the infirmary, Jaxi, and we'll pick up the supplies we need." Sending an affirmative, the big blue launched from their weyrledge into a shallow climb, moving quickly through the air. They were at the main hall in moments, and Jaxith backwinged into a quick and rather rough landing on the platform. One of the volunteers for the day ran out to greet him, a large bag in her hands held high overhead. Leaning down, S'lain snagged it from her, opening it to give a cursory glance inside and approving of what he found. Nodding to her, he waved her away, tying the bag in front of his saddle before Jaxith launched skywards again.

This time, he followed the mental image sent to him by the brown, Triniath, and blinked Between. Eight bone-chilling seconds later, they reappeared well above the familiar scene, gliding down in a circular pattern, and finally landing just downriver from the trio of draconic forms. Jaxith walked them closer, his blue-green eyes whirling slowly as he projected calm and soothing to the two weyrlings. S'lain dismounted when he stopped opposite Triniath, the youngsters between them, sliding to the ground with the bag in his hands. He took in the situation in a quick glance, then approached the bronze weyrling being tended by the brownrider.

"S'lain, Journeyman Dragonhealer." He said both by way of introduction and explanation as to why he'd come. Jaxith hovered as near as he could without causing undo worry in the younger weyrlings, ready to protect His if Ebolath decided she wanted to attack again, though he only read remorse from her thoughts. Be careful, mine. S'lain nodded to him.

Turning a critical eye on the young green first, he noted that there wasn't a scratch on her, before returning his gaze to the bronze and Sk'ler's attempts at staunching the flow of ichor. "Good thinking." He acknowledged, putting his bag on the ground and unfolding it. The design was such that once the top flap was opened, the whole of the bag could be unrolled and laid out for easy and immediate access, with an assortment of tools, bandages, various pieces of cloth and liberal quantities of numbweed, redwort, oil, and any other possible medicinal liquid or herb needed.

Picking out a couple of containers, S'lain suddenly turned to the boy and girl sitting several feet from the action, his eyes finding those of the young man. "You, what happened here?" His voice was quick, but kind. His intent was to get them talking. Riders could and did go into shock from an injury to their dragon, and weyrlings were especially susceptible to such.