Come to High Reaches (all candidates!)

[irbre]

Tenmor shifted again, his eyes narrowing to glittering slits, but not only from the events at hand. While the others were worrying about this rider and his 'recruits', Tenmor had read between the lines, paying particular attention to the information on Fort and Benden. So they were fighting over Ista Isle now and Fort was stronger? Tenmor took a strange satisfaction in that, for he hated Benden with a passion. Yet still, neither bode well. What if the Weyrs were to eventually merge? Selentinas would definitely be doomed in that case. If one were to collapse and the other take excess and willing riders.... No. Tenmor shook his head, refusing to dwell on such thoughts.

He watched passively as H'rel addressed him, his face as blank as he could keep it, though a muscle twitched along his jaw. The greenrider could hope however much he wanted, it would not change a thing. Tenmor failed to see the peace in what he considered political suicide, which would quickly evolve to physical suicide as well. Tenmor stirred, though, when the man paused, alarm suddenly leaping to the front. It was not unjustified, either, as the greenrider grabbed a girl and turned to run. Tenmor scrabbled after them, already left in the dust by Mutasim, who was quicker to act.

Why hadn't he thought of something like this happening? Why hadn't he taken precautions? Tenmor cursed himself, skidding to a halt before almost falling over Mutasim, who had fallen. He opened his mouth to ask if he was all right, but the shorter boy was already away again, running after the escaping greenrider. Tenmor followed in close pursuit, his gaze split between H'rel and Mutasim, watching the smaller boy in case he fell again. It appeared to be futile, though, for the green blinked Between as he rounded the corner. He stared at the spot for a moment as if hoping for the dragon to reappear, but turned his gaze elsewhere once he knew it was futile. "Are you all right, Mutasim?" he asked quickly, noticing the pained way he moved with one knee. He moved closer, eyes flicking back and forth as if expecting another 'recruiter' to pop out of the air and attempt to spirit one of them away.

[mangotango]

Alviar was lost ten seconds in to Mutasim's speech. He didn't want to believe him- it was clear from the hunted look in his eyes that he would rather have eaten dragon dung then accepted that people could be so crass and cruel as Mutasim told him they were. Several times he looked as though he was going to speak, but he fell silent every time. He was, quite simply, forced into silence by the strength of Mutasim's gaze. When the other boy called him a friend- a moment which, at another time, would have been the crowning achievement of his life- he barely had the presence of mind to look startled.

It was a good thing that he was brought around even that much, because it enabled him to get out of Tenmor's way when he went pounding out after Mutasim. A heartbeat later he was following them, but for the same reason as he first had: to see where they were going. He had no hope of actually catching the greenrider- Alviar wasn't a fast runner at the best of times.

He slowed several feet away from them, unable to shake the feeling that he was in disgrace. Mutasim was fast- if he'd been watching H'rel instead of Alviar, he might have caught the man and that poor girl. He hoped Mutasim was alright; he really did. That was about as far as he could think at the moment- it felt like everything he knew was at war, his own beliefs clashing with the truth as Mutasim had laid it out.

Alviar felt broken.