Feline Attack! (OPEN)

[Rei]

Raylin walked through the gloom near the Wherhandler apartments carrying the new glows in a basket at her side. General weyr duty was so tedious and boring but she knew most chores were. It was a bit unnerving walking through the weyr in the gloom. Shadows took on many terrifying shapes and she spent the majority of their trip reassuring Ebolath that this or that was just a tree branch or a stump. Speaking of her Hatchling where was she? “Ebolath love where are you?” She called a spike of fear lodging itself in her throat. Vega catching His’s anxiety winged from her shoulder and latched onto Ebolath’s “mind channel” he following it to where the Hatchling was crouched in front of a bush.

Ebolath had seen a flash of something and was curious as to what it was. It looked like a furry tunnel snake. She crept up to the bush and gave the object a sniff. The tawny feline tail flicked and she heard a low growl. The green hatchling cocked her head and gave a small questioning croon. Vega winged over at that point and noticing the tail gave a shriek of warning. Ebolath stumbled back just as a large feline leapt from the brush and giving a snarl lunged for her. Squealing in terror Ebolath wheeled around and began to run the feline close behind.

At Ebolath’s cry Raylin dropped the basket of glows with a crash and sprinted back along the dusty ground. “Ebolath!” She screamed as she caught sight of her hatchling and the feline close at her heels. A feline this close to the weyr? It looked horribly skinny it’s bones sticking out grotesquely from it’s matted dusty fur. Desperation for food must have drawn it closer than normal to the weyr.

Vega shrieked and wheeled around to flare his wings and slash at the felines face in a desperate attempt to protect his females. Fortunately for the little flit his sudden appearance startled the feline enough to stop it’s forward momentum allowing Ebolath to reach Raylin. It was a bit confused and disoriented so it did not immediately strike at whatever was hounding it. “Vega you dead glow get away from there!” Raylin screamed scared for the tiny flits safety one slash or bite and the little flitter would be done for.

[ravenmane]

Tuck your wings in, Trin. Sk’ler ordered as he glanced at the Brown’s sides when the creature went into a dive. A mental grumble was all the rider received as the dragon complied before pulling up in a bone jarring corkscrew. You know that compared to other dragons, you are a very ungraceful creature when trying to do aerial tricks? I am performing at the best of my ability, and there is nothing wrong with my corkscrew. Triniath huffed before settling into a nice glide around the Weyr. Now that the Brown had stopped or paused at least in his exercises, both Soltun and Joolree appeared from between to be with Theirs. Soltun naturally took his custom place on Sk’ler’s right shoulder while silly Joolree twirled and spun about Triniath’s face and neck. Her joy was long lived as the normally peaceful Brown bugled angrily and shot off towards the Wherhandler apartments. Sk’ler only had time cling to the straps as he was jerked backward.

WHAT THE SHARDS ARE YOU DOING?! There is a wild feline attacking young Ebolath and Hers. They are the two of the newest Weyrlings. The color drained from the Brownrider’s face as he heard what Triniath had to say. A newborn dragon and her rider being attacked at the Weyr was a scary thought, but luckily Triniath had somehow picked up the Weyrling pair’s trouble. It was hard to see the scene in the fading light, but from his perch in the sky, Sk’ler was about to see the scene although not very clearly. Watch out, Ebolath! Triniath snarled as he suddenly folded his wings and plummeted to the sky at the same moment as the feline lunged at the Weyrling pair, ignoring the small blue fire-lizard nearby. There was a sickening crunch as the heavy Brown smashed into the wild feline, flattening without a problem.

As Triniath stepped away from the rather flat carcass and lowered himself to the ground, his rider slid off his back and hurried towards the Weyrling. “Are you three alright?” He politely refrained from any physical contact while he glanced at the very dead attacker nearby. In the past, Sk’ler had heard of feline attacks, but he didn’t remember any so close to the Weyr and not one by such a skinny creature. Above him, Soltun and Joolree appeared with a blast of air from between, and took their usual places on Sk’ler’s shoulder and arm. “Oh. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Brownrider Sk’ler, that is Triniath, and these two are Brown Soltun and Green Joolree.” It is nice to meet you, Little Ebolath, Ebolath’s. Trin spoke quietly, his mindvoice quiet compared to his normal tone.

[Tashe]

Stupid Wherhandlers and their oversensitivity of their Whers, all the thing had was a sharding thorn in its paw. But that dimglow was acting as if it was the end of the world. /Humans are emotional creatures, and the Wher was probably in pain Ermine./ Yes but because the handler was mentally freaking out, so was the Wher. Growling as he Tugged at one of his leather riding straps, the Dragonhealer felt like kicking something in annoyance, but the only thing around to kick was Ismaroth... it was tempting but not worth the argument that would follow. About to vault up onto his's Brown's leg, E'rro stumbled slightly as the Dragon physically jerked around. "What the sh--" /HUSH./ Frowning unhappily as he brushed off his clothing, the young ex-Bendenrider shifted from one foot to another waiting for an explanation.

/I thought I heard... Ermine get on!/ Why? /There's a feline attacking a Weyrlingpair./ How do you know? /Look!/ Snarling indigently as Ismaroth used his tail to shove him toward the very edge of the landing ledge, E'rro frowned before looking. A moment later he was back at the Brown's side and climbing into the flying leathers. /Believe me now?/ Shut up, I heard the snarling... and lift off already. In the air within a few wing beats, the Brownpair watched as a second Dragonpair descended from the sky and dropped past the tree line. /He'll need the help./

Reaching the attack site, E'rro leaned precariously over to one side, frowning almost in disappointment. A battle with a Feline was dangerous, and two Browns increased the odds of winning, but the first arrival seemed to have squished the thing into a... wheatcake or something. Pointing down as his Dragon glanced back, the Dragonhealer motioned to the next open area in which they could land. Once we touch down, lift off and watch from the sky, eyes up there might save us from another attack. /Not that you need anymore scars right Mine?/ Not funny.

Sliding off Ismaroth's back, E'rro did a shoulder-roll to decrease the damage of dropping from so high, before springing to his feet. /For a healer, you aren't very careful are you?/ A snort for a response, and the Brownrider was off toward the group not far away, arriving in a few moments time. Slowing to a brisk stride, E'rro stopped closer to the dead cat than the other humans. "Everything okay here?" Glancing down at the Feline, the Brownrider frowned once more before kneeling, inspecting the large cat carefully. Gums were pale yellow, and he could literally feel the bones and joints through the skin. Running his hand down the belly, his frown deepened as he grunted and slid his had further.

Standing up before wiping his had off on his trousers, E'rro jogged back over to the Weyrling and Rider. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but thats a female. Now, if it were a male, I wouldn't be too worried since it could be a rougue... but since its not..." A pause. "... well lets say Felines normally hunt in packs. So where theres one... theres at least one more." Another pause. "We should move... probably, now."

Anything? /I don't see any..../ Good. /But that doesn't mean there isn't another... they hide well../

[Rei]

Raylin said a silent prayer as the feline finally sorted out the chaos and turned from the blue flit to snarl at her and Ebolath. The cats evil yellow eyes locked on her and her dragon. What in Faranth’s name could they do? Ebolath was to small to do much damage and Raylin didn’t have a weapon nor did she relish taking her eyes off the cat long enough to scan the ground for one.

Luckily it seemed it was not quite their turn for death. Vega gave a frightened keen and winged away from the cat as Ebolath grabbed Raylin’s shirt and yanked her back just as the feline lunged. A brown dragon seemingly fell from the sky to crush the feline with a sickening crack. The weyrling’s mouth fell open in shock from her position just feet away. All that kept her from screaming at the sight was the intense anxiety radiating from her green. Raylin automatically turned from the gruesome scene to reassure her dragon as the rider of the brown dismounted.

“Yes we are all ok.” Raylin breathed a sigh as she realized that indeed they all were. Besides being frightened Ebolath was uninjured. “Thank you so much Sk’ler and you to Triniath.” The weyrling said in a calm grateful tone as she felt Ebolath’s fear trickle away to be replaced by gratitude and love. The little green crooned to Triniath. Yes thank you for saving me and mine. That monster was oh so scary! Vega took that moment to wing back to his and he landed on her shoulder to call out a greeting to the two flitters. These were two he had not met before.

The weyrling was distracted however by the appearance of another man. Where had he come from? Her answer came when Ebolath crooned a greeting and Raylin raised her head to see a hovering brown dragon above. Ah another rider had obviously seen or heard the commotion. Her eyes widened in fear and Ebolath gave a quavering keen as E’rro sated the news about the felines gender and it‘s probable meaning. “More of them?” The girl breathed in horror. “Where should we go the apartments?” Surly the wherhandlers wouldn’t mind.

----

As if conjured by E’rro’s statement a snarl ripped through the quiet night and five bony felines moved out into the open. Three of them stalked out from the cover of the jungle and two others approached from the direction of the apartments, sufficiently cutting off any escape route. Their eyes blazed with the ferocity of the desperate and their jowls were tick with drool and yellow froth.

They snarled at the large brown on the ground unafraid. Desperation had driven the pack to this point. They needed meat and it didn’t matter what source. They had cubs hidden deep in the jungle and the little ones would not make it another day without food. They began their slow circling of the grouping, clawing at the air to try to drive their prey into bolting with sheer fear. If they had seen Ismaroth they gave no indication. They were intent on the ground based dragon he was by far a bigger threat at the moment.

[antinanco]

Then the cavalry came.

Bursting from the apartments, Risk hurtled towards the line of felines with Rinnel perched gawkily on top of her. While one of his hands was clinging to her for dear life, the other was thrust above his head, pointing to the sky in a dramatic fashion, and a gruesome war-cry ripped through the air from both wher and handler at the same time.

Knocking into an unsuspecting feline from behind it and to the left, Risk completely trampled it into a cat mush and the knocked over another with her left over momentum. Quickly she reached down and crushed the cat’s head in her muscular jaws with one quick bite as it lay prone beneath her. The metallic taste of blood filled Risk's and Rinnel's mouths, and they thirsted for more. But by then the others had realized what was going on and looked about ready to pounce on the two. Risk hastily retreated to the small group of dragons, full well knowing where her limits were.

“Sorry we’re late. Risk had a thorn in her foot and we’re not quite as fast as those wings of yours,” Rinnel explained with an unusual air of confidence and ease. This was exhilarating! He was actually doing something for the Weyr, instead of sitting around all night starting at the patterns in the wood grain. His fantastic mood shown as his face beamed and he dismounted his green with a quickly little vault.

Risk snorted a hello to the two handsome dragons-but alas, she had no time for flirting. No, she realized the danger more than Rinnel did, stepping in front of the little green hatchling and hers defensively. Her handler followed her, then put one hand on her hide with as an bizarre display of affection as he turned to face the felines. “I hope I didn’t miss anything, did I?”

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[ladybug]

Just as Risk killed the last feline, Rilysk barreled out of his room, bellowing in anger. The wher had never moved so fast before. Rilyer was clinging, desperately and pathetically, to his back. Risk bounded towards one of the remaining felines, swatting it with a paw. The feline sailed across the room, landing with a dull thump against the wall. It slid down to the ground, clearly unconscious, but possibly still alive.

In the process, Rilyer fell right off of Rilysk's back. He landed with a yelp right on his backside. Rilysk whirled around, running to his fallen handler. Rilysk's hurt?[/color]

Rilyer shook his head, hastily getting to his feet and limping to the others. Rilysk went to stand beside Risk, growling as he waited to confront the final feline.