Hey jackass! We have bit of a 'situation'. (S'rei)

[Rei]

It was a good thing Sel’n had been up so early this morning apparently. The brownrider had just finished oiling Kaaoloth and Vanity and was begining to cleanup when the first keen split the air. “Shit.” Snatching his suddenly shrieking mandyr and stuffing her in his pocket, fastening the top so she couldn’t get out, he vaulted onto his rapidly paling brown. The three legged dragon was already backing under the mild cover the tree line provided, immersing himself in the threads of mental communication flying through the weyr.

It didn’t take long to piece together a picture of hopelessness from the scattered messages. The war born brown was used to doing such. The picture was a grim one. Our wing is mostly trapped on their ledges. A few have been able to evacuate, Mavenath and Trilaranth amongst them. Hepaticath has been killed, Millieth captured, they are attempting to evacuate Jingth. What shall I tell the wing? Fuck. Momentary silence followed as the older rider’s brain followed wildly different paths. Finally he cursed softly under his breath. There is nothing we can tell them besides to stay calm.

Let go bastard! Lustking must get. Protect infirmary. Infidels! Kill all! How dare! Clamping his hand over his breast pocket Sel’n growled. “I don’t have time for this Vanity.” Fighting the desire to find Kalierre and thrusting it aside, he clung desperately to Kaaoloth’s mind instead. They needed a plan. Something…. Wait. S’rei. It had been only yesterday that the brownrider had talked to the Weyrleader about possible wing placement for some of the younger members on his wing. The man had mentioned a trip to Lighttower about tithes. Meaning. S’rei had no clue what was going on. Likely the brownrider was one of the only ones who knew of the bronzer’s location. If Kaegan also knew….there was little time. There a decision.

Lighttower Kaaoloth. We have to prevent S’rei from coming back. Focusing the coordinates in his mind and passing them onward to Kaaoloth Sel’n strove to ignore the waves of volatile emotion coursing off his mandyr as he muttered a quick. “Be safe Kals.” The cold of between was a welcome shock to his system, head clearing at least. It had also worked to silence Vanity and by the time they emerged over the hold, Sel’n had regained some semblance of calm.

Kaaoloth was silent as he circled and managed to land outside of the seaside hold, his mind reaching for Salenth’s even before he landed. There. Salenth. I come bearing grim news. Wasteland has invaded. Hepaticath dead. Millieth taken. Selenitas has likely already fallen. The brown’s words where matter of fact but the underlying sorrow beneath them painfully noticeable. I do not know how long we have until the Wastelanders are able to extract information as to the whereabouts of you and yours. Silence followed that comment although he kept the lines of mental communication open.

Sel’n had settled into an almost eerie calm. His hand absently stroking the pale hide beneath him. Off color and not surprising. All dragons held a connection to the golden mothers of the weyr and having them ripped forcefully away was distressing. Add to that the fact that Hepaticath had always been a particular favorite of Kaaoloth’s and…well it was no wonder he wasn’t himself.

Running a hand through his hair the brownrider waited for some type of response. Anything.

[Requiem]

Have you really been closeted with these all night? Salenth questioned His, yawning widely from his position coiled around the lighthouse out in the ocean. Technically, the bronze could have landed at Lighttower. Lord Phrenimast begrudgingly permitted the Weyrleader's dragon to. Just as he grudgingly deigned to speak with him (though not after using layers of so-called hospitality to put S'rei off for candlemarks, the man having finally gained audience with Phrenimast well into the witching hour). Yes, technically Salenth could have landed in the Hold, but S'rei played what games he needed to in order to smooth the choppy waters between Lighttower and Selenitas Weyr. Besides, the dragon preferred his current perch. Less likely to have the curious poking at him or the haters throwing rocks.

He's giving me the run-around. I look the other way when their shipments come in half-rotten because they give us the dregs for tithes, but they have to send something. We've enough to do without defending them from Thread for free.[/i][/b] He'll never believe that you'll cut protection over his lands unless you actually do so when he tests you like this, ReiMine. Yes, well, you know I'm not going to do that. Then I suppose you'll just have to put up with him not tithing as he should, or find a different way to pressure him. Helpful. At any rate, they've sent off the tithe caravan. Finally. Let's go back.

S'rei wearily made his way through the streets, ignoring the looks directed at him. He came to Lighttower often enough to be used to them by now. Salenth was waiting outside the Hold by the time the older man finally walked out the gates past the massive walls, and he crooned softly before lowering himself enough to make it easy for S'rei to mount. You'll need to sleep sometime, ReiMine.

The large brown emerging above Lighttower had S'rei frowning upwards. What was Kaaoloth doing here? When his words came, neither dragon nor man responded for a long moment, both silent and still. S'rei still had one boot planted on Salenth's forelimb, and the position was an unnatural one to freeze in. Wasteland? What do you mean Selenitas has already...? Has Millieth turned it over to them? There was no judgement in the question. Salenth's dark hide had paled a shade in response to the news, and S'rei finished mounting up.

You are certain Selenitas has fallen? Don't answer yet; we move. The jump Between was to a place further down the coast, deserted and out of sight of Lighttower or any of her ships that might be close enough to the shore to make out the two dragons. Salenth settled amidst rocks, S'rei sliding down and waiting for Sel'n. A slow anger was burning in the man. Wasteland. Ba'sun, C'zan...they had to be behind it. How many dead and dying, because of them? Because he'd let them live?

And what of his family?

[Rei]

Salenth’s voice was a comforting sound, strange as that perhaps sounded. Kaaoloth trusted the older bronze without question. However he was anxious, and it showed in the way his wings remained mantled, his weight shifting as he kept glancing skywards. Coordinates where very welcome. Anywhere further away from this place. Sel’n fixed them in his mind for the brown and within a few moments they where back winging to a landing amidst the rocks as well. The three legged dragon kept his wings half furled for a few minutes before he hesitantly folded them. Kaaoloth was obviously on edge. His nostrils flared as he turned his head towards the larger bronze. When he spoke it was calm but there was much to relay and in his distress he had to keep checking back with his to make sure he had it all correct.

I am not completely certain that Selenitas has fallen. However when we left Millieth was broadcasting for them all to stand down. Hepaticath had been killed practically on the onset of the attack, along with Immunis. Ripped from the sky during drill, there where no survivors as far as Immunis was concerned. Kaaoloth’s eyes whirled in distressed shades. Legatus was attempting to evacuate Jingth, what metallics where left alive, and as many as they could both riders and weyrfolk. It happened so suddenly that I do not think many where able to leave. I caught what information I could from who I could ask. Sel’nmine remembered you both and we hoped to catch you before you returned. I am glad we where in time. The brown’s head lowered then to watch the two riders.

Sel’n had slid down from Kaaoloth when the brown landed and he strode towards S’rei with quick steps. He could hear the words Kaaoloth sent over the bond and he rubbed his temples briefly. As he got within speaking distance the brownrider offered. “I really wish we had better news. But from what I saw before we left? We got blindsided. There was little anyone could have done. I can’t tell you if Jingth was able to escape or not but I hope so.” Nervously he wet his lips. “Warning you was the only thing we could think to do at the time. My wing was mostly trapped and with Kaegan captured it was only a matter of time before they started negotiating surrender terms.”

Blue eyes flicked up to S’rei’s face the expression in them resigned and anxious. “I don’t know what else we can tell you, but if you have any questions I’ll do my best to answer them.” Pushing his own hollow feelings aside for the moment Sel'n tried to focus on the fact that at least they had been in time to prevent S’rei’s death. That was something at least. He curled his hand into a fist. Damn...

[Requiem]

S'rei's eyes locked on Kaaoloth. Immunis? Aliscia. He was fond of the woman, as much as he could be fond of anyone but his children. It wasn't that knowledge, though, that bothered him most. If Aliscia was dead and he was here, who was looking after Reiscia, Silas and Shoal in the middle of the chaos? Miguel, at least, would be with K'lir. It sounded a little weird, that the man would trust his nephew who he loved as much as his own sons to the protection of a blind man, but it was the truth. The greenrider was very resourceful. Hepaticath and Savitri registered on a lesser level. Gold culling. One was easier to control than three. Ka'rys would be hurting, if he was alive; he was more attached - even separated - to Savitri than S'rei had ever been to Aliscia.

If Legatus was still functioning, Ka'rys must not have died, at least not initially. Or maybe he had; Legatus was unlikely to cut and run under his direction, not if it happened as fast as Kaaoloth claimed. The Fort bronzerider would want to be certain there was no other option first. It truly must have been dire. Millieth's surrender, a hasty evacuation of as many as possible...What metallics were left? Then they'd targeted bronzeriders as well as goldriders. With that mentioned so specifically, it made him think that this was more surgical in nature, not like the mass slaughter that they now called the Siege. Wipe out the leadership, control the senior gold...Immunis had drills early in the morning. Wrong place, wrong time? While the man was trying to learn as much as he could from the confusion of details, Salenth crooned softly to Kaaoloth. We're glad, too. Thank you, he responded quietly. You and Yours did as well as could be expected. Rest. I'll watch the skies for now. He had not missed how jittery the brown was.

If Sel'n was looking for reassurance in the bronzerider's face, he was unlikely to find it. His face was stony, his eyes livid with an intensity that was more complex than either anger or grief. "They were the Benden defectors beyond any doubt? Not Benden?" S'rei had never fully trusted the whole thing with the prisoners, after so much silence. "Be sure of your answer. J'lorin is the obvious one to turn to if these mean to oust him. But if he is behind it, we'd only be playing into his hands." Paranoia, perhaps, but he had every reason to be cautious. Nothing could be decided or done about this until he had the necessary information.

More questions followed the first, a good deal more rapidly. "Did Legatus lose anyone, to the best of your knowledge, before you left?" He wanted to know about Ka'rys more than anything, but if most of the wing had made it out intact they would be invaluable. "The metallics were targeted before the rest? Do you know any of the bronzes that managed to evacuate? In fact, do you know any of the riders who got out? Was it directed by Legatus?" If so, they should all be in the same general location. It made little sense to split up unless they were being pursued. "Did it seem like they meant to kill everyone, or just take control? What of my wing? F'lix? S'kor?"

Only after all the logistical questions did he allow himself to address the issue foremost on his mind. "You, Aliscia and F'lix were the only ones who knew I went to Lighttower last night." Then another thought occurred to him. No, F'lixe had been with Ba'sun at the time. He'd barely even noticed the man. F'lix was supposed to be keeping an eye on him, after all. Were they really so scared of him that they waited until...No, they couldn't possibly have such a superstitious notion regarding him. He put the thought aside to consider later. "I expected to be back earlier, but...that's not important. My kids would have been in our weyr. If they thought I was there...Did you hear anything about my children, Sel'n? Are they safe?"

[Rei]

Kaaoloth although he had fallen silent, was far from quiet in body language. His weight shifted back and forth constantly, his tail twitching just at the tip as he held his wings just barely away from his body. Salenth’s voice brought him out of his inner thoughts and he rumbled quietly before brushing the bronze’s mind with brief thanks and slight relief. Sinking sphinx like onto the sand, his single foreleg stretched forward, the large brown gave a soft huff, his whirling eyes still fixed on Sel’n and S’rei. The dragon was positive his would need help and conformation before replying to Salenth’s. At least he could supply information. Hopefully they knew enough to answer most of what was asked. Kaaoloth’s tail curled around a nearby rock the tip still twitching briefly but at least a little color was returning to his pale hide.

Sel’n frowned at the first question but all the same he nodded. “I don’t pretend to know the inner politics of Benden. However it was Ekarth that took down the first dragon, and the colors the invaders wore where not of Benden. It also seemed as if they had enough information to make it an easy and quick thing. From the onset of the attack the whole thing couldn’t have lasted more than minutes. Most of the dragons where kept on their ledges with flame. There seemed to be no time to even form any type of resistance. In fact they made the point of announcing that anyone who resisted would be killed. Millieth did mention a name in her broadcast. Demotaeth according to Kaaoloth.” The next rapid fire questions where shared with Kaaoloth, information passing between the brown pair easily enough. There was a lot to tell. Unfortunately through the brownrider knew he would not be able to answer all of S’rei’s questions.

Nervous blue eyes went to Kaaoloth briefly before they returned to the Weyrleader. “As far as Legatus goes I know for a fact Ar’ren and Evrgarde are dead.” The brownrider frowned. “Kaaoloth could probably give a running list of dead as far as dragons if you asked. He kept careful track.” The brown always had marked the passing of his kin, even at Fort. It was a somber thing and personal. The brownrider clamped a hand over his pocket to still the suddenly shifting Vanity. Now was not the time for her to interject. Thankfully the little green seemed to only have been curling herself into a tighter depressive ball. Joy.

“Metallics where indeed the first to be targeted. Ekarth gutted Morreliath at the very beginning. As far as any metallics that survived I do know that two of my wing made it to the evacuation point. Cr’oph and Mavenath, and R’men and Weith, Kaaoloth did not feel Kierjaarth pass but I do not know if he escaped or not. Nor do I know if he is still alive now.”

Fingers drummed against his thigh. “The evacuation seemed to be run by Legatus yes. Behruth was giving coordinates to the Sr. weyrlings and the metallics, as well as I suppose any he could think of. I know a few of my wing where able to escape to the evac point. R’ven and Trilaranth, both the previously mentioned bronzes, M’kai and Futh….” Sel’n paused as he thought. “I don’t know of many others. We left before Kaaoloth could ask more than a few. Your wing I have honestly little knowledge of. Kaaoloth says a few where lost and a few simply disappeared. I know S’kor had been killed immediately. F’lix I have no information on. I am sorry.” A sympathetic look was given to the bronzer. Not knowing what happened to your wing was upsetting. Sel’n still wished he could have gotten information from everyone on his. But there had been almost no time. The whole thing was over almost before it began it had seemed.

A simple nod was given at the remark as to the people knowing S’rei’s whereabouts. Aliscia was dead, F’lix unknown but possibly dead, and he was here. That perhaps gave them a little time before anyone came looking here for S’rei. Hopefully anyway. The question about his children had Sel’n shaking his head sadly. “I wish I did S’rei but I don’t. I didn’t hear anything about your children but I do know that they said anyone who surrendered would be unharmed. If you resisted you died. It wasn’t a culling so much as a takeover it seemed.” So hopefully S’rei’s children where spared. It was hard to say.

[Requiem]

S'rei silently absorbed all of the information he'd asked for, eyes turning inward as he sorted through it. S'kor and Morreliath dead by Ekarth. F'lix's whereabouts unknown. Others dead and missing. It sounded like Sel'n had, indeed, managed to spare his life by showing up when he did. Part of the bronzerider desperately wanted to go back to his Weyr. To his home, and the remnants of his wing that he'd failed. To his children. He felt like a coward, hiding way out here on the coast near Lighttower. If it was a slaughter he would have gone anyway. Kaaoloth and Sel'n meant well, of course, but he wasn't leaving everyone else to die...It wasn't a slaughter, though. A takeover. That meant his home was now enslaved by invaders, and all returning would do would ensure that he could never help free them, and his children would lose their father. He owed everyone to try to fix this.

He'd gotten them into it to begin with, hadn't he?

S'rei nodded brusquely, not wanting to discuss his worry for his children anymore. If Sel'n didn't really know it was pointless to speculate. He had to believe they were okay. Was it...crazy...to hope that Ba'sun might have...? Probably.

"Demotaeth is Ja'kin's bronze. Weyrsecond to J'lorin, old Benden." Not that a Fort rider would probably understand what S'rei meant by that. Most of them liked to forget that Benden had once been very similar to Fort. "Demotaeth was from the same clutch as Baith. Ja'kin played the game as well as anyone. He kept his head down better than I did, certainly, after it became clear that Baith and Morsrath were going to be a permanent thing." S'rei considered for another moment. "I think it's safe to assume that he's not here as part of some wild scheme of J'lorin's. His bronze won't catch Baith as long as he's Weyrsecond, and the idea of any Bendenite liking the rule of a Fortian is ludicrous." No matter what J'lorin might think.

Only then did he notice just how shaken Sel'n seemed to be. S'rei suddenly grabbed the man about the shoulders, the embrace swift but firm. "I'm sorry. Any more questions can wait. We need to move, and we should warn Lighttower that riders might come searching. Ba'sun was with F'lix when I talked to him last night. I'd forgotten." His eyes flicked inland, toward his home. "Where would be the best place for a bunch of escaped riders to go, I wonder? We should try to find them."

[Rei]

Sel’n was silent as S’rei spoke simply nodding once slowly. Ja’kin of Demotaeth. It was a name he would definitely remember. One the brownrider probably should have known, but since arriving at Selenitas he had been a bit careless on such things as who lead what weyr. Oh he knew the actual Weyrleaders and Weyrwoman. But as far as the seconds and below went? He had grown lax in caring. An oversight apparently. The news of the bronze being of the same clutch as Baith had Sel’n coming to a bit of an understanding. One that the bronzer concreted with his next words. Ja’kin wanted Benden. Selenitas was perhaps just a step in that direction. The brownrider frowned slightly. The thoughts of those he left behind haunted him. How many of his pervious students would survive? How many of his wing? And what about Kalierre? The woman was smart. Too smart for her own good at times. She was probably fine but Vanity and Kaaoloth’s nerves and upset where rubbing off more than Sel’n liked to admit. Being close to one’s mindmates was all well and good. Just not at times like these.

The older rider had just started to put some mind clearing distance between them and himself when S’rei embraced him. His immediate reaction would have normally been to stiffen immediately, but the brownrider was far too emotionally strung out to even acknowledge the possible attempt at comfort on more than just a base level. Besides it was a quick thing and when his Weyrleader pulled away Sel’n managed a brief look of thanks before running a hand through his hair. “I agree. Best put as much distance between this place and ourselves as possible while we still can.” As for warning Lighttower? He supposed it was for the best but the thought of going closer to that place was unwelcome. Especially if Ba’sun knew where S’rei was. Ba’sun…The brownrider’s eyes slightly narrowed as he half turned to view Kaaoloth and thought of the Benden mutt. Damn him to the depths of between. Kali had been right as always. Never should have ever trusted that man at all.

Pressing a hand gently against his breast pocket Sel’n prodded Vanity, getting nothing more than a trickle of upset and despair. Damn harpy. She was too damn attached to that bronze of hers and he was worried about her. As if he didn’t have enough to worry about already. Well nothing he could do for her at the moment. Action was always better than standing around. Turning back to S’rei Sel’n shook his head. “I wish I did have an inkling as to where they are. Finding them could be difficult.” Especially if they where smart about it, and they would have to be smart about it if they where to survive. “They have no firestone. Nothing really in the way of supplies. If I was them first order of business would be getting out of the open so they don’t get eaten by thread.” The brownrider have an involuntary shudder. “So at this point unfortunately your guess is as good as mine. Before I came to Selenitas Kaaoloth and I spent some time living alone in the mountains. There are a few cave systems there. Not all of them safe. But maybe that’s a good place to start?” It was the best the man could come up with currently.

A mental brush to Kaaoloth had the large three legged brown rising back to his feet and awkwardly hopping closer to the two riders and Salenth. Lowering his head toward his bonded the dragon gave a soft snort even as Sel’n’s hand found his muzzle. It’s alright Kaaoloth. It will all be fine. The brown rumbled. You often like to promise things you don’t really believe. But in this case…I’ll forgive you. Whirling eyes fixed themselves on S’rei then, the brown giving a soft croon before nudging his gently. We are wasting time. Nodding to his dragon Sel’n reached over and gripped S’rei’s forearm in a gesture of camaraderie before turning to mount his dragon.

Rider safely aboard Kaaoloth crooned to Salenth. I await your direction Salenth.

[Requiem]

S'rei considered Sel'n's suggestion for a moment. Yes, Threadfall was a problem. For them, too, and it would have to be addressed soon. Holds were not an option. The dragons couldn't be housed there and would need some other form of protection, not to mention the trouble it could get the holders into. So many dragonriders couldn't locate random caves close enough together in the forest itself to use as shelter in order to get to the Holds for supplies when they needed it. Groups of two, three tops might be able to manage it. So they wouldn't be doing that. That left relocating, and the mountains were really the only logical choice. Which disturbed him, anyway. If it was the only real choice, then wouldn't it be easy to guess? Maybe not. There was quite a lot of terrain to cover in the mountains. Best not to think about that right now.

"Yes, that's probably the best place to start looking. If they're not somewhere in the mountains, they've nowhere to go but north. Hopefully Ka'rys won't take them there." Legatus aside, he didn't think most of Selenitas could handle living as refugees in the north. Doing so here would be difficult enough. "First, we'll need supplies, and to pick up anything that might help people forced to leave without a chance to prepare. I want to talk briefly to the Lords of Selenitas and Blossom, too. Hyphen and Southern will have to find out on their own, I think." Acknowledging the hand on his arm with a nod, S'rei turned toward Salenth. The bronze gave Kaaoloth the coordinates to airspace not far from Blossom.

Salenth, however, did not go there immediately. The bronzepair waited for Kaaoloth to jump, then jumped themselves, emerging above Lighttower. S'rei was not willing to risk Phrenimast getting any ideas about holding him for Ja'kin, even if he did feel an obligation to warn Lighttower if they were pursued. Lordholder Phrenimast. Northern riders may come looking for us, be forewarned. They should cause you no trouble if you tell them the truth. Better not to tell him about Selenitas just yet, even if he was likely to know soon enough.

A moment later, they arrived within sight of Blossom, putting down in a clearing not five minutes' walk from the Hold. "Vanish, Sal," S'rei murmured, running his hand down his neck. The bronze huffed softly and wormed into the largest opening between the trees, thankful that his hide was as dark as it was. He barely managed to fit. The bronzerider gestured for Sel'n and started for the Hold. "We can't stay here very long. The window of opportunity will close shortly."

[Rei]

Kaaoloth passed the coordinates immediately to his rider and shifted his weight to his hindquarters in preparation for take off. Sel’n in turn was grateful for something to concentrate on to keep his more pessimistic thoughts at bay. Coordinates worked, focusing them in his mind the brownrider had only another minute to look around before the large brown beneath him leapt into the air and transferred between. As the infinite black and cold of between again hit him Sel’n briefly wondered as to what they would end up finding before the brownpair remerged in the airspace above Blossom. Immediately the rider directed his dragon down. For all they knew Wastelanders could already be sweeping the area and so cover was obviously an immediate necessity.

Sliding off Kaaoloth and patting him briefly wherever his hand happened to fall he mentally prodded the brown away. Cover and hurry. The dragon didn’t need to be told twice and before long he had awkwardly made his way to the trees, wiggling beneath them as well as a small bronze sized brown could. Hopefully it would be enough cover. In any case the brief side stop shouldn’t be long and if worse came to worse there was always between. Or simply distraction to allow at least S’rei and Salenth time to escape. They where the important ones. Eyes flicking upwards Sel’n waited the previously mentioned bronze pair’s arrival taking the time the small interim moment gave him to check on Vanity.

Pale, unmoving, and upset. Not surprising. He wrinkled his nose at the green mandyr. “Haaaarpy. You can’t do this to me. Come on love. A least you know Lust’s still alive? He’ll wait for you. He did before. True love never dies and all that shit I don’t really believe in.” The brownrider felt the mental eye roll from Kaaoloth. So sweet you are to her when no one's looking and yet you still say you hate her. Shut up wherface. The words where sharp and quick, however a brief half smile flitted across the older mans features. His brown would be fine if he was up to picking a little again. It was actually a bit comforting. They arrive. A brief glance up at the passing shadow before Sel’n fastened his pocket again. He was well aware of S’rei’s dislike for pets and if he could help it he was not going to draw attention to the fact that he had Vanity with him at all.

As S’rei approached Sel’n gave a slight nod of acknowledgement and fell into step beside the larger man. “Small window indeed.” His gaze went briefly to the sky as if he expected a dragon to materialize at any moment. And what? Rain death down upon their heads? Pushing such ridiculous thoughts from his head the man focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Movement. Work. An objective. It was what worked in the chaos of battle and it was what worked now. Strange how easily one’s mindset could shift back. Even after years in the south.

“What would you have me do S’rei?” The words, softly spoken, as the brownrider kept up the brisk pace held an almost urgency. It could get done faster if they worked independently wouldn’t it? Even if Sel'n didn’t particularity like the thought of splitting up, at the very least he could pick up some things while S’rei got an audience with the Lord holder.

[Requiem]

Blossom Hold. The affluent lakeside haven of those southerners accustomed to the bounty the southern jungles had to offer was a familiar sight to the bronzerider. It actually was not that different from what Selenitas Weyr used to look like, before half the outbuildings were burnt down in one attack or another. Holders making their homes in trees, out of wood, showed a decided amount of trust in the dragonriders who guarded their skies, even with the grubs. Whether it was that, the dolphins, or Shmee's love of the place though, S'rei couldn't really say. He certainly had more reason than simply their good will to make Blossom his first stop.

"Daddy!" Before he could answer Sel'n's question, a little red-headed whirlwind broke away from the swiftly gathering crowd of friendly holders. She flung herself at S'rei, who caught her up in his arms and pressed a light kiss to her forehead. "We can go flying now?" the child questioned eagerly. Her small arms wrapped around his neck and she turned curious eyes on Sel'n. While Shei hadn't been seen in Selenitas for turns, it was more than clear that the bronzerider had still seen his daughter quite often.

"Not today, Red," he responded quietly, transferring her to the bend of one arm. "Daddy has a lot of work to do. Would you like to come with me to see Auntie Kilisto?" he asked Shmee's daughter. The girl, whose face had been slowly darkening into definite signs of a brewing storm, brightened instantly and she gave his neck another squeeze. S'rei took that moment to unfasten the coinpurse from his belt and hand it over to the brownrider at his side. "See how much leather, oil, medicine, cheap cloth and unperishables this can buy. Maybe a half dozen daggers, too, but only if bargaining goes well. I doubt anyone had much time to think about gathering necessities. I'll make this quick."

And quick it was. A short half candlemark later, Salenth appeared from Between, settling into one of the larger spaces between buildings as holders bustled to laden the bronze with all manner of supplies, from salt and stone tableware to silks and wines, courteousy of Tentieon and Kilisto. Salenth moved aside for Kaaoloth to join him. S'rei clasped Tentieon's forearm, then pulled him into a hug. He turned to kiss Kilisto's cheek, pressing another kiss to the forehead of the child who'd latched onto the Lady's hand, then made his way over to Sel'n. "They've promised craftsmen and any other help they can give to the Selenitas riders in exile, so long as they can do so without endangering the Hold. Do you have the coordinates to the mountains?"

[Rei]

Drawing up to a sudden stop Sel’n watched the little red headed girl approach with quiet interest a faint smile coming to his face as S’rei scooped up the little girl. Shei. Girl had gotten big since the last time he had seen her which had to have been after Shmee’s death. Funny how fast the turns flew by. The brownrider offered a friendly smile to the small red head before S’rei’s voice again drew his attention and he gave a brisk nod accepting the purse with a soft. “Yes sir.” A final short wave to Shei before the rider set off for the market area, mentally making a list of what was necessary.

Unfortunately one of the necessities wasn’t something he had an easy fix for. As Sel’n walked he reached into his pocket and pulled out Vanity. Her hide was so pale it was only a few shades off white and listless only began to describe her.. “Damn it harpy. You really can’t do this to me.” Tears threatened to spill and his hand actually shook as he prodded her. She was seriously that attached to Lust? Obviously the answer was yes. Back when the rider had been abducted it had been a near miracle that she had made it through. Another long absence would do her in and the brownrider wasn’t dumb, he wouldn’t be able to survive that. Vanity was far to attached to him now. Ducking into and area between two buildings he crouched down and held her in the palm of his hand. “Alright listen here you lovely pain in my ass. I’ll let you go. Go back to him and for Faranth’s sake don’t get eaten on the way. I can’t bring you closer than this but you’re my clever girl. You’ll be fine.”

Trailing a finger down her back he gave a slight smile as the green mandyr perked up a little and half frilled. Be serious? “Yes but you be careful and you do your best to protect Kals for me? I promise I’ll come back and the big dummy will take care of me until then.” Wher face? Sel’n laughed. “Yes wher face. Now go.” For a moment the little green looked torn then she leapt onto the wall beside the brownrider and frilled, still pale but the color was returning to her. You no be stupid. Cripplelove love muchly. Kisses? Snorting Sel’n snatched Vanity off the wall and brought her close to his lips. “We never speak of this again.” Course not. Sinking her tiny teeth into his bottom lip she licked at the droplets of blood after. “You wound me princess. I’ll miss you. I mean it. Be good and give Kals a ‘kiss’ for me alright?” Yuck no kiss draglady. Bye bye love. Come back soon. Skittering down the man the green mandyr gave one final backwards look and frill then scampered around the corner.

Are you sure that is wise? I don’t have much of a choice. If I do keep her she’ll just die on us. This way…she has a shot. She’s clever. You never know. A pulse of understanding before the contact receded.

It didn’t take all too long for Sel’n to acquire most of what they needed and the craftsmen where more than helpful and generous. Blossom always had been faithful and kind to the weyr who protected it. It wasn’t even a candle mark later when he met back up with S’rei and helped to load the dragon’s with what supplies they where able to gather. Kaaoloth shifted almost uneasily between the buildings his whirling eyes fixed skyward as he finally half mantled his wings in preparation for flight. Brushing soothing feelings against the brown’s mind Sel’n gave a final check to his bindings before nodding to S’rei. “Sounds better than I expected.” The bronze rider never did cease to amaze. Political connections came in so handy at times like these. Even if these connections where bound with family ties. “I do have coordinates to an area very close cave system Kaaoloth and I used before coming to Selenitas.” He would need the brown to help pull some detail from his memory, but that shouldn’t be too difficult.

In a few moments he had mounted Kaaoloth and had fixed the coordinates into his mind, rechecking them twice before having the brown pass them along to Salenth. Hopefully our old home hasn’t collected any nasties while we where away. Even if it has I would relish the chance to sink my fangs into something. Patting the hide beneath him Sel’n gave the dragon the mental go ahead and then a signal indicating his take off to S’rei. Kaaoloth dutifully passed the coordinates one more time to the bronze pair a final time before leaping into the air. A couple wing beats before the brown cleared enough to transfer between. As the cold hit him, for what felt like the hundredth time that day, Sel’n held his breath. This was going to be one long road.

[End Thread]