Dominance Belongs to One Weyr (Plot)

[neeuqtar]

The betrayal in Kaegan's eyes hurt more than R'non could say. "She wasn't supposed to get hurt," he hissed at C'leon, moments before all hell burst loose, instigated by K'nam. It hit him, another blow: C'leon was an idiot. Bringing the entire Weyr here was the stupidest thing that could have been done. Hadn't he learned anything from the debacle with the weyrlings? Apparently not. Rath, you would do well to heed me now, he snapped at his dragon, the betrayal by his best friend hurting the worst of all. Rath cringed, about to launch into the Hatching Grounds to attack those attempting to subvert Morsrath's orders. Attack Morsrath. No! the dragon cried, horrified at the very thought. Yes, R'non said coldly, freeing his knives from their sheaths. Challenge him for the Weyr to hear. We will die if necessary to regain our honor. No, the dragon whimpered. Yes, R'non hissed back, voice biting, putting all his hurt behind the word as he flung himself infront of P'nor, parrying the knife-blow meant for the other bronzerider.

"You SHARDING BASTARD, C'leon!" R'non yelled at the man he had put so much trust in, thrusting with his other knife. "She. Wasn't. To be hurt!" His eyes were wild, and angry. C'leon is a fool. With a strangled cry, Rath launched into the air, wide wing spread to catch the heat from the Sands and the pyre. Morsrath! I challenge you for the leadership of Selenitas! FIGHT ME! The dragon bellowed, his voice reeking of firestone as his mental shout boomed through the minds of all within range. R'non winced, the full brunt of the dragon's emotion hitting him. He was going to die here... But he would die with some scrap of honor.

---

Uu'n was furious. This thing should not be, and he was among the first to charge after K'nam, knife and dirk all but leaping into his hands as he pounded across the hot Sands. But he could give no help in dragging someone off a pyre, so he let the two go alone, slipping into the flickering red shadows on the edges. He had no help coming this time, and clenched his dirk between his teeth as he started to scale the walls most shrouded by shadow and smoke, aiming on attacking not the riders, but the dragons... for wouldn't a slit throat prove just as effective, if not more so, to dragon than fighting through to a man? He might die.

But if he could take out a bronze or two... and help save those he loved... it was worth it. I love you, Adith, he whispered, getting no reply from the drugged dragon, before he turned his mind entirely to the task he had set before himself.

[Kisha-Ra]

There was something in the air today, tension, like a rising storm. R’fuin blamed it on the cursed southern heat. He sought relief from the endless, sapping heat by the river, which only served to make him sticky as well as hot and irritable. Even Ylonth’s company didn’t help, the pale blue liked the heat and couldn’t wait to curl up in warm spot and snooze.

However the blue suddenly raised his head and hissed furiously. Red and yellow tones shot through his eyes as he informed R’fuin. He is here, with his. A rather unflattering image of Mosrath accompanied this outburst. All are to go to the hatching grounds. Ylonth added sulkily. Ylonth didn’t like Mosrath, Mosrath’s upset his R’fuin. Ylonth’s tail lashed across the sand like a maddened sidewinder as he waited for his to move.

R’fuin froze in fear, C’leon? Here? Why? I’m going! Whatever C’leon had in mind R’fuin would be there. As his rider scrambled to his feet and ran Ylonth lumbered skyward, forcing strength into his tired wings. Why was he so tired?


Miiine…Oh my Raaaziii[/color] Kismeth’s voice sang teasingly, sluggishly, into Razi’s mind. The small green didn’t even stir on her ledge as she spoke/sang from her languorous doze to her chosen. They want you Raaaziii, they want you to go theeere. You must seeeeeee theeem.[/color]

Razi muttered a moderately vile phrase under her breath, she just didn’t know what was wrong with Kismeth at the moment, the green couldn’t be about to Rise, it wasn’t the right time yet, but Kismeth’s current mood and actions were well out of character. Razi frowned, could Kismeth be coming down with something? Want to tell me why? she asked acidly.

They tell me. The bronzes say and we must listen like a good little greenpair.[/color] Was the monumentally unhelpful reply. Razi didn’t like the sound of that, not at all, in fact it sent fingers of ice through her. Ever suspicious the greenrider took time to put on her flying jacket, because it was the most likely garment she owned to turn a knife blow, and snatch up the short belt knife that was the only weapon she had to hand. Then she dropped her impassive mask and loped toward the hatching ground.


Darya saw the bronzes over Selenitas before Azrath even woke. So here is the other boot. she thought grimly. Why am I not surprised to find it falling here?

You are you.[/color] Azrath suggested as his rider’s cynical thought stirred him into wakefulness. You would not be surprised by anything bad, you would just say ‘I knew it!’. They want you to go to the hatching ground.[/color]

At least I know where to find them. Darya replied, stripping out of her workaday and pulling on riding leathers in their place. Whether those bronzes were Fort or Benden it still meant trouble. Benden would be her guess since C’leon held a grudge.

Long thin knives went into her boots, for all the good they would do, She’d need to be closer than anyone would be willing to let her to do anything with them. Her eyes swept the room for anything else she might conceal and use as weapon, nothing. Darya slunk from her weyr and toward the hatching ground.


Odian and Jarathon walked together, urged on by drudges, not understanding a sharding thing going on. The only clue the boys had to enlighten them was Jarathon’s green salamandyr, Wraith, who sat with her tail wrapped tightly around her humanpet’s bicep and told him in subdued tones about ‘Bad bugs[/color]’. Which was no real help at all.

Even without Wraith’s help Jarathon would have known there was something wrong, he grown up in the Weyr, through its many moods and now the air itself was filled with barely restrained fear and anger. He dragged his feet along the ground, reluctant to go.

Odian trudged beside his young friend, disquieted by his silence, and the greater silence of the dragons.


Redaro tried vainly to calm his furious firelizards as he, too was chivvied from his work and toward the hatching grounds by harried drudges. Jinka and Telba orbited his head, hissing and shrieking at anyone who came too near their Minething, while Insi, normally the calmest of ‘lizards stood on his shoulder with her wings extended to their total width also voicing her objections to the current state of affairs. As he walked he was bombarded with images of bronze dragons.


Janisi had gotten herself mixed up with another group of weyrlings, content to be led. Now he found herself in the midst of a group who were about to be attacked! Her combat skills were never very good, girls weren’t supposed to learn that kind of thing beyond methods to get away from an attacker, so she followed the orders of the senior weyrlings most assiduously. She closed her mind to the meaning of the flames that suddenly danced so high and wished that she could close her nostrils to the scent of smoke.


Darya snarled, letting rage force back all else, to let herself feel the pain of betrayal and the fear that threatened to overwhelm her would be fatal. She reached down and slipped the blades from her boots into her hands and ran for the bronzeriders threatening the weyrlings. They were the future, she and hers were little more than a footnote on the pages of history. A list of names, dragons and riders killed in threadfall.

With an inarticulate battle cry the bluerider sprang toward the two bronzeriders, battle crazed and furious. From his ledge Azrath echoed that cry, driven by his rider’s rage, but not far enough. Exhausted by the effort of that defiance the blue folded back down on his ledge.

[marissa]

A'noan did not like where this whole thing was headed. Not at all. The Benden Weyrleader had fathered the entire Weyr... and then Kaegan and Shmee were there... everything was happening too quickly for the bronzerider to pick up all of it. The speech, with C'leon's vile perspective on everything, made bile rise in A'noan's throat. How dare that man think that he could conquer Selenitas without a fight? Even with the dragons drugged, the Benden riders were still largely outnumbered, and he, A'noan, was here. He would protect the Weyrwomen, insolent and practically useless thogh they were.

Taking K'nam and T'nmor's charge as a signal, A'noan roared. It would have been feral, for anyone with less dignity than the bronze rider. As it was, the man charged at C'leon himself, mainly to help a fellow bronze rider. K'nam and T'nmor were taking care of the Weyrwomen, and even as prideful as A'noan was, he wasn't a deadglow. They would take care of Shmee and Kaegan. What the rest of the Weyr needed to do was take out the other riders. And he, well, he and P'nor could help take out C'leon.

Ermieth! Wake! Can you help us? Dimly, the rider felt his bronze wake drowsily, shifting for a moment before replying. I... am sorry... Mine-own. I... do not... know... what is happening... The drugged bronze's head fell heavily to his paws once more, restlessly sleeping. If anything, this fueled A'noan's anger even more. How dare that man -- if he could even call himself such -- drug as great a beast as Ermieth?!?! That... that...

But A'noan didn't even have words to describe C'leon. Instead, the bronze rider only swung his fist at the Weyrleader, hoping it connected. If anything, it would distract his attention from P'nor. Although the bronze rider didn't like the thought, he had no time for chivalry, here. They needed to protect Selenitas, protect his home... keep it from Benden's vile hands.

[ravenmane]

P’nor’s hand grasped the handle of his belt-knife just as R’non stepped in front of him. Twisting away from C’leon and R’non, P’nor tried to get his bearings. Instead of instantly joining R’non, P’nor stood at a wary stance, waiting for an opening. He would stay out of the way unless his Junior Weyrleader needed help. Only then did the Bronzerider notice A'noan. It was two against one, and the assistance from another rider if needed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sk’ler stood beside Gina & Saraina as two Bronzeriders ran towards them. Hazel eyes glanced back at the youngest weyrlings as Sk’ler struck a fighting stance. He would fight until his last breath. “Are you two ready?” Sk’ler glanced at Gina and Saraina. The girls would have to be if they were getting all of the Weyrlings together. Struggling to resist the urge to leap at the approaching Bronzeriders, Sk’ler waited patiently. If a fight was what these men wanted, a fight is what they would get!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Kalushka arrived at the Hatching Sands, she saw K’nam race towards the burning pyre that held Shmee and Kaegan. Without a second thought, the young girl pushed her way through the crowd and towards her Weyrwomen. As Kal ran across the Hatching Sands, the heat from the fire burned her face, but she wasn’t about to turn back. Scrambling past T’nmor, the young candidate pulled herself onto the pyre. Ignoring the heat and the nearness of the flames, Kalushka grasped Shmee’s body and pulled her up. The girl was surprisingly strong for her stature, and pulling up a normal healthy Shmee would have been backbreaking, but the weak and shrunken body of Kali’s Sr. Weyrwoman was light enough to help Kalushka pull her off. Stepping towards T’nmor, Kalushka gently lowered Shmee to the Weyrling. “Grab hold of her!”

[randi]

The fire danced close, but the heat and flames went largely ignored, though the occasional flare licked across his skin. The pain barely registered, his focus on the two women in front of him. He heard a voice over the pounding in his ears, causing K'nam to turn his head for a quick check. The bronzeweyrling could handle the women, he was fairly sure.

Grabbing Shmee's arm, he lifted her up, trying to speed the process when he felt someone else take her arm. He turned and caught a glance of another helper, someone he faintly recognized, but not enough to know more about them immediately in his current state. "Get her down and then get off." His tone was low, commanding, though a faint trail of worry stemmed from it.

Letting go of the senior Weyrwoman, the bronzerider found Kaegan swiftly. He wasn't sure if she was conscious or not, but that didn't matter until the fire was clear. Kneeling, he gathered her up in his arms, being careful not to let the oil get too near the flames or let her slip from his arms.

He hesitated only a moment to be sure that the girl was off the pyre before he leaped off himself. Hoping Kaegan wouldn't be jarred too much. K'nam laid her gently on the sands, finding any part of her that had caught flame and extinguishing it. A sudden shudder reeled through his body, his mind halfway recognizing the pain his flesh felt. Try as he may, he couldn't find a way to feel sorry for himself. They were fighting; they would win.

Rath challenged Mosrath? Turning his dark-haired head skywards, he decided to let what happened of that be as it was. The only thing that mattered was the well-being of the Weyrwomen in the bronzerider's mind. Trying to shout over the hubbub, he glanced over his shoulder. "Someone find a Healer for Shmee and Kaegan! Make sure they have a guard!"

Though he wanted to continue fighting the Benden riders, K'nam felt a certain responsibility for both of the two goldriders and couldn't bring himself to abandon them in favor of fighting. Looking back over at T'nmor and Kalushka, he jerked his head. "Bring Shmee over here."

((I'll try and post for my others after homeworkings.))

[irbre]

T'nmor watched with vague surprise as another appeared to assist, braving the flames to rescue their Senior Weyrwoman. The heat from the flames was practically unbearable at this point and the air wavered and blistered, the wood of the pyre beginning to pop and flare like some horrible parody of a fire show. Behind him the sounds of fighting grew constantly louder, cries of pain and victory echoing over the Sands. The Benden bronzes, and apparently the Junior Weyrleader's bronze as well were calling out to each other, their screams echoing off the smooth walls of the Hatching Sands. Out of the corner of his eye T'nmor caught the flashes of knives. Some had come prepared to defend, while others had come prepared to attack.

Suddenly the girl was before him atop the pyre again, this time with Shmee in tow, urging him to take her. Heart hammering in his chest, T'nmor reached up to secure the woman. The distance was horribly great, but even as the girl let go of Shmee T'nmor allowed his knees to buckle under her weight, hoping to soften the drop. Who knew what had happened to her in her time in captivity, after all? She was surprisingly light as T'nmor wrapped his arms gently around her, cradling her as if she was nothing more than a large child. His gaze flicked back up to watch K'nam as he took Kaegan and leapt to safety. Neither of them looked to be in even the fairest of condition, for their skin was flushed from the heat of the flames, and possibly burned.

Now that both of the goldriders were safe, sound seemed to rush back in a flurry, washing over T'nmor's senses and practically sending him reeling. His whole body felt over-sensitized and he looked around in momentary panic. They couldn't leave the women here. It was far too dangerous, even with all of the Selentinas Weyr members on their side. The Benden bronzeriders still presented a problem, and as much as T'nmor loathed to leave, the safety of the goldriders came before his own personal grudge. Deep blue eyes sweeping the area, T'nmor noted that K'nam had set his charge down on the Sands.

"We have to get them out of here!" he cried to the bronzerider over the dull roar of the area, forcing down rising panic. There were bronzeriders present still, especially C'leon, and they would sooner kill the two women then let them leave. He allowed his gaze to stray for a moment and looked back to see that K'nam was already moving, calling for a Healer. T'nmor shifted Shmee's weight. It was still horribly hot in here, and laying the women on the burning sand would only result in more disaster. Their skin was already blistered from the heat of their funeral pyre and prolonged exposure could result in even worse injuries.

T'nmor leapt after K'nam, Shmee in tow. Anywhere was safer than the Hatching Sands at the moment, anyway. At least they should get away from C'leon and his minions. The roiling crowd of people presented a certain amount of safety, for only a foolish rider would leap after the Weyrwomen into a mass of enemies. T'nmor noticed vaguely that Shmee seemed to be getting lighter, though dismissed it immediately. It was the heat, that was all. They needed to get these women to safety, and T'nmor would assist in tending to their rescuers as well. They couldn't afford more injuries and danger at the moment.

[Tashe]

Grunting slightly as the man's knife slashed a cut in his tunic, the Weyrlingmaster ignored the small line of blood that had been drawn across his chest. This Bronzerider seemed to take a direct route with no thought behind his actions, and for the moment, giving F'rah the upper hand. Spinning to the side as T'nai thrust his dagger toward is chest once again, the Brownrider quickly struck out with his right hand, snatching the Wingleader's wrist in his hand. Twisting around, F'rah slammed the heel of his hand into T'nai's elbow before leaping away. "I wouldn't underestimate the riders here." Dodging another attack, and receiving another small nick to his shoulder, the Weyrlingmaster grunted in mock approval. Although scathing remarks escaped his mouth as he danced with the Benden rider, just as he would when giving his students defense lessons, in a way he was mocking the rider.

"Look at that sloppy stance... you call that a thrust? Ha."

---

There where two things wrong with what the Bronzerider had done; one was not take notice of the blade in his hands, and the other was to go for his hair. Growling like a feral animal, F'con tossed his blade from one hand to the other, driving the blade into the man's fleshy bicep. Not taking note of how much damage he had caused, the Bluerider quickly slammed his elbow into the nearest uncovered area before jumping away and reassuming the starting stance he had just been in. He had been lucky that the Bronzer had gravely mistaken his flexibility and had come in close to grab at is hair. Itching to rub the sore spot on his cheek were part of the man's blow had collided, F'con tried to force the soreness from his mind as he concentrated on his challanger... content to wait for G'mor to make another move.

---

Both of the Weyrlings had different expressions on their faces as they heard Sk'ler speak, one wore worry and the other sported a grim smile. "Unfortunately. You and D'ton, left one. We'll take the right. Everyone else, freelance, safe gaurd the others." Saraina had broken her trance for only a moment to jerk her head at D'ton, enforcing her words with a physical movement. Their chances of actually surviving the fight without any horrible wounds were... well better than someone could hope of a bunch of weyrlings. The two women knew that the expectation of killing the Bronzeriders were at an all time low, but that didn't mean they had a horrible chance at wounding or incapacitating the men.

Nudging Gina's foot into the right position, the Blueweyrling lifted the throwing daggers that she had been practicing with earlier. Although her true weapon of choice was a long dagger, these knives served her just as well. Flicking her wrist at an angle, Saraina crossed an arm across her chest before slinging it out and releasing the knife... sending it hurdling at the first man.

Quietly lifting the skinny dirk that she had taken from her friend, the Greenrider began to begin her breathing exercises. She would follow Saraina's comments, for she had little experience in fighting people taller than herself. Let alone she hated the sight of blood, bringing forth the need to calm herself. "Alright... lets do this."

(Kaegan will follow in a moment)

[Tashe]

The haze of smoke and the heat of the growing flames made Kaegan curl up into a ball against the body next to her, mentally unaware of exactly what was happening around her. The world seemed silent, as if it was a string of moving pictures that no one could change. Feeling had been lost to the Queenrider, the shock and the state of her perilous dance with consciousness froze her nerve cells. Screaming, fighting, C'leon... they were all going unnoticed, and Kaegan slowly began loosing the fight against the blob of darkness that had ensnared her in it's grasp. The hatching grounds slowly started to leech its bright colors, and the edges of her vision began to grow fuzzy once more, each second that passed brought her closer to total unconsciousness. It was only when the young goldrider accepted her position that the images of her friends and family began crowding into her mind's eye, allowing her to make fake amends with the people she would be leaving behind.

Unknowingly shutting her eyes against the blazing heat of the pyre, Kaegan withdrew fully into her mind, no longer wishing to take part in the travesties occurring around her. It wasn't long until the redhead become fully unresponsive to Shmee's touch or words, at least in the world created when one slipped into a coma wrapped her in gentle soothing darkness. Kaegan didn't wake or struggle when K'nam lifted her from the wood and freed themselves from the pyre, even the jarring jump did nothing to alter her current state of health. It was when she was in the arms of the Bronzerider did the darkness break into images, leading her by the arm into multiple dream sequences that she would likely not remember...

(sucky poooost. But hey... Kaegan cant do much when she's like... halfway dead. And... when Tashey is like dead herself. )

[missa]

It was Rinth's drowsiness and utter disinterest that first got W'liam's attention, normally, he couldn't get the bronze to shut up, now he could barely get a word out of him. It was worrying to say the least, he wanted Rinth to be back to his usually cheerful, if clumsy self. Willow wasn't around, so there was nothing to take his mind off worrying for his dragon. His big strong bronze now dreaming away.

Chewing on his lip, W'liam hated to leave Rinth when he was told to. After all, the bronze could snap out of it at anytime, right? It was natural that he'd want to be there when that happened... Not that he was really getting a choice, hurried off to the Hatching Grounds of all places. Why there, and was that Shmee? Moving forward curiously now, W'liam was concerned for the weyrwoman, none of them had seen her for months and now... Well now, there she was, heavily pregnant, injured and Faranth knew what else. Glancing up for others, W'liam moved next to U'un, frowning as he gently nudged the blue weyrling
"What's going on?" He murmured, before falling silent as the bended weyrleader began to speak. Anger slowly boiled, quietly as he watched the man with Kaegan. No one, ever, should treat a woman that way, that these men probably did it on a daily basis, it was just... Sick. Wait, what burn them? Why? Thjey couldn't so that..

~

It was quite honestly scaring E'nor, just how unreceptive Clestioth was being, he was never quiet, it was hard to even get him to stay still for more than a few seconds. Now, he hadn't moved much for sevendays.
"Clestioth!" Nudging teh blue gently, E'nor shifted so he could see his blue, who merely gave a half-hearted trill in his direction.
Hatching Grounds Mine. They want you. Of course those words did nothing to comfort him and instead served to make him panic just a little more.
"They? Who? Who they?"

In passing mutters, it wasn't hard to figure out, though it was no comfort, infact, it probably made E'nor just a little bit more afraid. Benden. After everything they still came back. Stupid people. The dragons were all really subdued though, there was nothing anyone could do and why? Why would Benden come back now? Slipping in next to W'liam, E'nor's eyes went straight to the sand under his feet, he wasn't going to look at the weyrwoman, or even at the large bronze, or the man that rode him. That would only serve to make him even more terrified, if that was possible. He didn't even want to know what was going on. Wait, what burn who now? Eyes came from the hot sands with a startled look abuot them, fixed on the weyrwoman and her junior, unable to think of anything to do at that point. How could anyone- No, these were the people that had tried to kill the weyrlings, had managaged to kill half the class. They had tried to take Clestioth from him...
"No! No, you can't do that!" Why was he yelling, it didn't matter anyway, not when moments later chaos erupted around him.

*

You are wanted. Hatching grounds. Sitath gave no more information than that, speaking quietly to Zadari after he had heard the order, Sitath said no more as he returned his gaze to the weyrledge. Though surprised that Sitath had indeed spoken something that at least resembled sense. Glancing at the sapphire coloured dragon, Zadari hauled herself to her feet, frowning slightly. Who wanted them? Why?
Back soon.

Standing on the sands did nothing to improve her mood so far. Benden. After all they'd done, they still wanted more, Zadari herself would die before going under the leader ship of Benden, she'd never bow to C'leon. Or any other Benden slime. Hands tightened around the knife hilt at her waist, forcing herself to stay still. There was nothing a lone blue rider could do, but maybe, just maybe... The moment the chaos broke out, Zadari had never been gladder for an excuse to draw a weapon, to hold one.

*

For Beka, who depended on her mind-mate's comfort and even her flitts to keep her sane, the sudden lack of response from all three was terrifying. She didn't understand why Thoth would ignore her, he never had before. Why would he do so now?
You are needed in the Hatching Grounds. He'd spoken, but with that same distant, sort of disinterest in her or anything he told her that had haunted his words for days. Why her? Why would anyone need her? She was only a weyrling, and after all, she wasn't even a higher ranker.
Why? She didn't want to leave him until she was sure there was nothing wrong with him.
Because you have been told. Came teh half hearted response. Swallowing, hard, Beka left him, glancing over her shoulder the whole way.

Once there, she wished again she'd never left, while she might not have had the displeasure of actually meeting C'leon, she'd heard enough to make the assumption. Shmee and Kaegan, both held by the Benden riders, what would happen to them? Perhaps a turn ago, she wouldn't have cared, everyone had to deal with pain, death was a release of that. Now, she thought differently, bonding to Pita, and Anai and Thoth, it was different. Seeing someone hurting, and someone else threatening to kill them, it chilled her. To say the least.
Thoth! It was a pure panicked cry, Beka stumbling back as the fire was lit, what scared her more, was the lack of a response other than a half hearted 'yes'

*
Religna had never felt more alone than in the past few days in which Ith had been completely silent, Toria too, had been unresponsive. She wanted to know what was happening to her bonded, whether she was just tired, or possibly sick, what if she was really sick, what if she never recovered? Yes, Religna was worried, extremely so, and it was no more reassuring when Ith finally spoke.
LiMine. They is wanting you. At the hot sands. The bronzes say so. Slightl;y singsong, the green's tail twitched in unison with ehr words, before she fell silent again.

"I'm not going." Came the reply, Religna glaring at her dragon and crossing her arms. Whoever they were, they could wait.
Oh but you must! Not even for Ith would you go? Sharding dragon! Glaring at Ith as she got to her feet, Religna said no more as she stormed from the barracks, only to stop dead at the sight of the bronze. Everyone knew C'leon's face, andseeing it had the same effect it would have on any northerner. Religna froze. INstantly, she wanted her dragon, or her brother. Either one would be a welcome sight when watching Benden claiming dominance.

*

Rielana wasn't used to this side of Jeminorth, no matter how hard she poked, the green only giggled and rolled over sometimes. It was honestly, amusing for the first day, worrying for the rest of the time she was like it.
Mine, they's wanting you. Hehe, like a goooood green I tell mine. And like a nice rider, Mine will go. Yes, she will. A giggle followed this, and the green's eyes whirled slowly, turning her head to watch Rie with amusement.
"Alright, if I go will you go back to normal?"
The clouds a prettiful.
"Geez I hope so."

Obviously not, all Benden seemed to want to do was to claim dominance, was to make them fear them by killing their leaders. Well, it was working. Definately. Rielana was terrified befiore the fire was even lit, she was already terrified, they'd been gathered here... IOt would make it so easy to pick them off, easy. Especially the younger weyrlings and wherlings, they wouldn't know what to do. Shards, Rielana didn't know what to do, at least the senior weyrlings knew something of fighting.

*

It was a rush to get out of the room, people pushing her along each moment as Kayla tried to explain toKask where she was going as she tied a piece of cloth around her eyes, trying not to freek the already frightened wher out any more. ONce she'd gdone that, Kayla hoisted the wher into her arms, not saying anything to the sleeping salamandyr as she walked after the others that were leaving the appartments. All the while, she sent mental reasurances to Kask, who was sending mental feelings of discomfort and unhappiness as she clung to Kayla's tunic.

On the Hatching grounds, Kayla wished she'd left Kask in teh barracks, though knew that the green wehr wouldn't have allowed it anyway. Still, she'd have been safer, espcially now, with Benden on their hatching grounds. Kask whined softly, pressing her muzzle into Kayla's neck as the girl stroked the green gently, her horror mounting with each moment.

{It's crap I know but Missa sleepy >>}

[Administrator]

Shmee

Shmee coughed, her own world beginning to darken. She was suffocating in the smoke, even as she moved the collar of her shirt over her mouth in an attempt to filter it. Her eyes were shut, unable to take the heat of having them open amidst the flames. Her whole body felt as though it were fevered and painful. She curled desperately into a ball, but flames licked her back, legs, arms, and hair. Giving out a weak cry, she desperately flung herself over her belly to keep it covered, but she knew it was a vain try. She was going to die, and her babe was going to die... Kaegan was lost to her; she couldn't see what had become of the other girl. Now, Shmee was lost alone in the fiery inferno of hell, and she didn't know how much longer she could take of it. She didn't want to die, yet she wanted it all to be over as fast as it could go to be put out of this misery. Caught by a spasm of coughing as the flames grew, she felt someone grab her. Coughing as she was moved, she didn't open her eyes to see the face of her rescuer, nor did she recognize the feminine voice. She did not see the flames that ran up their legs and undoubtedly burned them, nor the smoke that rose from the hems of their clothing. All she was aware of was her own burning, and how she held onto the hope that she would be saved from it.

Suddenly, all seemed so much cooler, even though she was still on the sands and close to the flames. She felt herself drop into a waiting body, and she was overwhelmed by coughing once again. Whoever caught her then wrapped their arms around her, and for a brief, desperate, wild moment, she thought it was S'rei. But it couldn't be; the arms weren't as large or muscular as her weyrmate's were. Yet she couldn't open her eyes still. They felt as though they were glued shut from the weight of the heat. Her small, bulging body was once again wracked with violent coughs as whoever had her began to move her. She wanted to speak, but her throat was too dry, and she was too thirsty. Shards, the pain...

--
C'leon

C'leon ignored R'non's first words. He was of no importance, and neither was his query. All that mattered now was subduing the Weyr. He figured once he killed most of the ranking riders, it would be simple to overpower the others... Morsrath, send for the Children's Wing,[/color] he commanded. Morsrath wasted no time in calling out to them. The Children's Wing was made up entirely of weyrlings; he had a feeling that if this weyr felt as though they were too good-hearted, they wouldn't kill the weyrlingriders he had called for.

Growling as R'non blocked his path, he whipped his second dagger from its sheath. "Do not make me kill you, R'non!" he yelled at his old comrade. It dismayed him that such a good ally had ended up taking a liking to the little Bitran-minded weakling queenrider. Yet if need be, he would kill him. He leaped towards the other bronzerider, both of his daggers swinging at the man's chest.

Morsrath, upon hearing the challenge, gave out a deafening roar of rage. His own underling had dared challenge him for leadership!? Oh, victory would be very sweet. He would bathe in Rath's blood! You fool Rath![/color] he bellowed into the other bronze's mind. Launching himself into the air, he accepted the challenge with another shriek, circling above the Hatching Ground. Once the weyrlings brought him firestone, his advantage would be perfect... But for now, he dove at Rath, claws outstretched and his teeth bared.

And who was this other man who dared attack him?! Punches were sloppy and were easy to pick up on, especially if one threw their whole body into the blow. He jerked his head to the side, then swung one of his daggers in A'noan's direction. But he could handle them, he did not doubt that. He was worth five men.

But his eyes flickered for one moment, in time to see two people on the pyre, flames caressing their determined bodies. He screamed in outrage. "GET THE WEYRWOMEN!" he commanded before refocusing all of his attention back on R'non and A'noan.

--
T'nai

Despite C'leon's command, every single one of the men he had brought were far too busy. The one that was tied with F'rah, T'nai, hissed as he was stabbed, then hit in his elbow. Yet he let out no other sign of pain. Raising his own dagger, he stabbed at F'rah's shoulder ruthlessly, this time desiring to leave much more than just a nick. He wanted this man's blood to stain the Hatching Ground. Though his own wound throbbed painfully, he could dress it when he got back to Benden. For now, his mind was only on one thing, and that was to kill this mocking little brownrider. "This is for mocking a Wingleader of Benden!" he growled, stabbing at F'rah's chest. He'd show this boy a thing or two about thrusts.

--
G'mor

G'mor wasn't so lucky. He didn't have his dagger, which was an automatic disadvantage, one that he regretted quickly. Howling as the blade pierced through his bicep, wet blood dripped to the sands. Yet he wouldn't give up. "You fool! When our noble leader C'leon takes control of Selenitas, I personally will have the honor of gouging your eyes out in punishment!" he snarled. Then, he leaped towards F'con, his leg coming straight up, aiming at the sensitive spot between his legs. If he managed to handicap F'con that way, he could stomp on the man till every single bone shattered. Yet he would keep him alive, he thought giddily. He wanted to torture this man for doing such acts upon him.

--
Robika (to Zadari, & K'nam, T'nmor, Kalushka, Shmee, and Kaegan)

Robika darted over to Zadari, her brown eyes wide in fear. "Zadari, I'm going to go in. I'm going to go help Shmee and Kaegan," she told her weyrmate with surprising calmness. She paused. She wasn't going to simply sit around and watch everyone die around her. She needed to help, she needed to do something... Valentine and Emanor hissed on her shoulders, but were obviously still loopy. The drugs affected the dragons the most, but flitters and 'mandyrs were a bit wobbly. She kissed Zadari quickly on the cheek. "Help if you can. I love you," she told her softly, gulping against the fear that she may never see Zadari again if she was caught. Stiffly, she ran down onto the sands, darting through the throng and weaved her way over to the direction where K'nam was leading everyone. "Let me help carry one," she said firmly, her eyes looking over the blistered, ash-covered bodies of her Weyrwomen. "Are you guys all right? Did you get caught in the flames, too?" she added, noting the charred clothing. She rolled up her sleeves, sliding over to T'nmor to assist with the limp body of Shmee. They needed to hurry, before anyone paid any heed to C'leon's orders...

--
Benden Bronzers & E'ri (to weyrlings, Darya)

The remaining men descended on the weyrlings that were assembling, grim smiles of satisfaction on their faces. "What do ye think if we took a couple of the pretty ones as spoils of war?" one was heard murmuring, his voice chilling enough to certainly make any young girl quaver on her feet. The other men chuckled, and formed a circle around them as they drew their daggers. Then, without a warning, the first one swung his blade-- at Janisi. He aimed his dagger at her side, in a perfect position to stab...

One noticed Darya's appearance. He broke from the circle, rushing the bluerider angrily. Giving a battle-cry, he swung the dagger at her chest while throwing his fist at her shoulder. The other men made the circle around the weyrlings tighter.

"STOP!" a voice shouted, diving at the group circling the weyrlings. E'ri jumped onto the back of one of the offensive bronzers, his own dagger in hand, and began stabbing at the man. The man beneath him yelled out, and the man beside him wasted no time in hurrying over, but E'ri had slipped off the man as he bucked. As he rolled onto his back, he had no time to get up before the second man stabbed him in the stomach. E'ri gave a shout of pain, then lay limp on the ground. Blood tinged the corners of his lips, and that seemed good enough for the bronzer, who withdrew the blade and rushed back into the circle. Yet E'ri lived-- shallow breathing could have been seen if the bronzer had looked closer. Yet the man couldn't-- or didn't-- move. The first bronzer, however, was lying in his own blood, moments from death. Yet none of his comrades gave it to him. It didn't matter to him. Right now, they were going to kill weyrlings.[/size]

[randi]

Though he had intended to guard over them here, T'nmor's suggestion to get them out of there seemed logical. Scooping Kaegan back up, he headed towards the exit, trying to think of where to take them. The Infirmary would be the best choice, he thought, though if it was blocked off, he wasn't sure. The rider's weyr's were out of the question, as the only undrugged Selenitas dragon was currently in battle. The closest place, though, would be... the Weyrling barracks! Turning his head slightly, he spoke calmly, "The Weyrling barracks?" If they could find a safe place there, one of them could run and get supplies from the Infirmary and the goldriders wouldn't have to be moved as much, though that did put the weakened weyrling dragons at risk...

It was only faintly that he heard C'leon's order to get the women currently held by T'nmor and himself. Let him try, K'nam could care less how many he dared to send after them. The two Weyrwomen would be safe with them, though where this confidence came from, he had no idea.

He blinked as Robika joined into their small group, listening to her command. "See if he needs help," he suggested. Though the first bits of pain were registering in his brain, he was mostly fine. Leaving the Hatching Sands behind, he paused for a moment. "Barracks or does anyone have a better idea?"

Was the risk of someone harming the young dragons worth it? If it was Bearinth, then he would be hesitant, so he decided to leave the idea to T'nmor. He was a Weyrling, he had the most at risk with K'nam's current plan. For a moment, his eyes flickered back inside to see their current state on the 'People Trying to Kill Us' front.

((Blargh. D: -apologizes-))

[irbre]

T'nmor was vaguely aware of the fact that Shmee was coughing. No, that was a lie. He was all too aware of the fact that she was coughing, a massive, wracking fit that practically made him tremble. Smoke inhalation, he guessed as much as possible, for he was hardly a Healer. A call echoed, somehow louder than the others, across the Sands, bringing condemnation with it like a dawning horror. C'leon had seen them attempting to flee with the Weyrwomen and was calling for someone to stop them. No. No, this could not happen. They had to escape. They were lives more precious than T'nmor's at stake here.

All of a sudden there was someone else at T'nmor's side, helping to ease to the burden that he carried, supporting Shmee. He breathed a sigh of relief and attempted to give thanks but choked on the words, vaguely realizing that he too might have inhaled smoke. He shoved the thought to the back of his mind and dampened his coughs, eyes squinting as he attempted to figure the safest way through the roiling mass of people. There were too many to get through unscathed and one of the Benden riders might have been able to attack them while they were unaware, battling with the writhing throng.

K'nam spoke again, this time to T'nmor's boundless relief. Yes, that Weyrling Barracks. It was a wonderful idea. Even while drugged, Jedirth and the other dragons might be able to offer some protection, if they could only reach there unopposed. Voice finally succeeding in working, T'nmor looked up at K'nam, hope kindling in his eyes anew. "Yes. The Weyrling Barracks. My room. My partner won't care," he half-told, half-babbled, focusing all his strength on carrying the injured goldrider as carefully as possible. Like K'nam, he glanced back, taking a quick stock of their situation.

Some of the Benden riders would certainly leap to obey, T'nmor knew, his heart sinking in his chest. They were older, more powerful men, bred for battle. They each lacked the tiniest bit of care and wouldn't hesitate to slaughter any of them, T'nmor realized, grinding his teeth silently. The new girl at least added to their numbers and could help carry Shmee if they became entangled in a fight, which would hopefully allow T'nmor to stall and gain them some time. He hated to think that way, though, and besides being a pacifist, didn't want to leave the group or die anytime soon.

Unbidden, thoughts of Jedirth surfaced, the dutiful, always-loving bronze floating through his head. Jedirth would be more than willing to sacrifice anything to save the lives of those around him, he knew. He would have to do the same. T'nmor looked back at K'nam and Robika, a strange ferocity and defiance flashing in his eyes. "Jedirth will help protect us. We will be safe in my room." With that he took off as quickly as possible, intent on putting as much distance between them and the bronzeriders as possible. They had to save Shmee and Kaegan now, after all.

[boober]

[[Please don't hurt me for this suck-job.. next one will be better, I swear T^T]]



Oh Mine~ You are wanted at the Hatching Grounds. Brennath scootched her head over toward Hers, eyes whirling softly in strange colors. Cezine was sitting by her green, curled up against her lovely hide. Something was amiss… something was wrong. Her Brennath was always aloof. This… rolling, singing, giggly mess was not her dragon and she didn’t like it. She didn’t like it at all. Now, as the green issued this newest bit of information, her rider did something she rarely ever did: she scowled.

“I am not going to the Hatching Grounds! Look at you… what’s happened, Brennath?” The green looked startled, opening her groggy eyes all the way for the first time all day as she looked at Hers.

Oooh, but you must! It is the will of the bronze and as I am a good green and have told my rider, so you my good rider must obey. Obey? Cezine stared at Brennath as if the green had suddenly sprouted two extra heads and an extra pair of wings. This was almost scary; her green did not even allow males to bespeak her without returning a scathing comment. The fact that this had occurred minus the scathing comment and plus a word like ‘obey’ gave Cezine a frightening sinking feeling in the pit of her gut. Rather than argue with her dragon’s logic, skewed though it was, the weyrling merely got to her feet and nodded, her mouth suddenly having gone too dry to speak. Why did she feel as though she were marching to her own death?

Darling uttered a quiet chirp from her place draped around C’lryn’s shoulders. The bronze weyrling had set his work down and was gazing thoughtfully at his dragon. Something was wrong. Minoath seemed oblivious of the scrutiny, his head resting on his claws as though asleep. But His knew that he wasn’t sleeping; C’lryn could feel his dragon’s mind in the back of his own, and it wasn’t right. Minoath was not a particularly active bronze, but he wasn’t lazy either. He enjoyed conversing with His about even the most trivial matters and would offer his opinion on anything.

There had been none of that this day; Minoath had laid on his couch and, by all appearances, dozed in silence. It was unnerving. Something was wrong with his dragon. The thought brought a cold wash of fear over the weyrling, followed closely by hot fury. Who had done this to his bronze? Who had endangered his precious life mate?

Mine? C’lryn startled, earning an equally surprised peep from his gold.

“Minoath.”

You are needed on the Hatching Grounds. C’lryn blinked. The Hatching Grounds? But he didn’t argue; if Minoath said it then it must be true, right? The moment he stood, Darling shrieked and launched herself from his shoulder, screeching and chittering as she flew wildly about the room. He felt fear emanate from his little golden beauty, along with a sense of foreboding. He looked again at Minoath, but the bronze didn’t seem to even notice the queen’s strange antics, looking as if he’d just curled right up and gone back to sleep. Frowning uncertainly, C’lryn turned and slowly walked out of the room. Darling, still setting up a ruckus, followed him. Chittering fearfully, the gold perched on her bonded’s shoulder again and wrapped her tail around his neck with a fierceness that had him reaching up to loosen the grip lest she choke him to death.

What in Faranth’s name was going on?

The two weyrlings reached the Hatching Grounds in a crowd of others, all of them looking curiously toward the center of the cave. Cezine, mistrustful of the whole arrangement, went slinking behind the majority of the crowd in an attempt to go relatively unnoticed. Her Topaz and Sky were both latched onto her shoulders, Sky uttering tiny trills of anxiety in his bonded’s ear. Topaz was tensely silent. C’lryn’s Darling was wide-eyed and kept a death grip on her bonded, though they had compromised and her tail was now wrapped around his bicep. The longer they stood with the rest of the weyrlngs and listened, the deeper the bronze rider’s frown became. Cezine listened and found herself going cold with rage. Even in her altered state, Brennath felt the fury building within Hers and shifted uncomfortably. She’d never felt anything like it, not from her good and gentle rider.

But it was far from unwarranted; Cezine bunched her hands into fists, clenching until she felt the bite of her fingernails into her palms. How dare these arrogant men come here, invade her home, endanger her dragon, attempt to kill her weyrwomen, and, to add insult to injury, expect her to just stand by and watch without so much as lifting finger to stop it!

A cry rang through the air and suddenly everyone was surging forward. Shrieking, Topaz and Sky rose from Cezine’s shoulders as she joined the riot, the blue vanishing to the safety of between. But Topaz stayed, his eyes whirling blood red as he followed his bonded, talons bared and ready to strike any who dared to harm her. Rather than pick someone to take out, C’lryn plowed through the battle as Darling rose on golden wings to sail overhead and keep a protective eye on her boy.

An echoing bugle tore through the barracks as Brennath gave voice to her rider’s rage. Sky reappeared over Cezine’s shoulder, ready for battle. She raced toward the men that were closing in on Darya, just in time to see one of the men stab E’ri. Her heart leaped into her throat even as she tried to call out to the blue rider. An image of his twins flashed through her mind’s eye. She dug her heels into the sand and surged forward. Her feet left the ground as she flew at one of the men, slamming into his back as her arms snaked around his body. But it was anything but a warm embrace; her hands were in his face, thumbs seeking to plunge themselves into his eyes. She’d have the satisfaction of taking his eyes even if it killed her. Topaz and Sky split off from one another, each choosing his own opponent to swoop and dive at unprotected faces, calling angrily as they too sought to relieve the unwary of their eyeballs.

[marissa]

[Ew. Sorry. D: D: ]

Sadly, A'noan noted, his punch was dodged. The bronze rider barely noticed that a dagger was flung towards him, only seeing it in time to slip out of its way. Still, he received a thin line on his unprotected calf. Sharding C'leon! Sadly, the man hadn't brought anything but a single dagger, which had been tucked in his shirt moments before he left his weyr. Drawing it swiftly, A'noan remembered how long it had been since he had resorted to using daggers.

Shard it.

A significant look was given towards R'non, and A'noan spared a moment to decide if he could actually trust him, always keeping his eyes from straying away from C'leon. Well... the Junior Weyrleader was fighting C'leon, and anyone who did that, at least at the moment, was considered an ally. Mentally shrugging, he cast a look towards the bronze rider, hoping he caught it. But there wasn't time to be sure they were on the same page - at the moment, it would take vigilance to stay alive.

The flicker of the bronze rider's eyes was enough for A'noan. The Wingleader slipped in, dagger in hand, as he stabbed at C'leon swiftly, going for the vitals. Neck, temples, chest. It had been so long since he had actually aimed to kill with a dagger, though... or even put out of the fight. They rarely used daggers of any kind for... violence at Selenitas. Not having much practice, A'noan might have missed his targets, but he couldn't be sure. After stabbing a few times towards the Benden rider's chest, the bronze rider stepped back again to evaluate.

[Kisha-Ra]

There was an air of insanity about the hatching grounds, chaos reigned a nightmare world of smoke and maddened voices. As yet relatively untouched R’fuin glared about him. C’leon here. Cold rage boiled in R’fuin’s blood like a shower of burning ice. Every day for turns he’d looked at his dragon and wondered, silently, if the price was too high and that man was the sole reason why.

If pure malice was a weapon C’leon would have caught light at that very moment and burned to less than dust, as the Benden weyrleader had meant for the weyrwomen to burn. Suddenly seizing on that thought R’fuin turned as if irresistibly drawn to the pyre that still burned, thought the goldriders had been removed. Slowly, deliberately, R’fuin walked to the fire, his usual feline grace seeming almost dangerous.

Flame reflected madly in the bluerider’s eyes as he stirred the outer edges of the pyre with a booted foot. With a smile that had nothing of humour in it R’fuin reached down and took a thick branch with an end that glowed orange from the sand, once away from the smothering sand the brand flared back to life in the young man’s hand. Still wearing his skull like grin R’fuin turned and fixed his eyes on the group of bronzeriders surrourding the weyrlings. Benden would shatter no more dreams, not while he could stop them. No price was too high.

R’fuin snuck up on the riders from behind, no battle cry or challenge to give him away, and almost gently waved his burning branch over the hair of a distracted Benden rider.


The corner of Darya’s mouth twitched upward as she knocked the Benden rider’s knife aside with a leather covered forearm, judging by the noise she had at least one ally in this fight. Perhaps she wasn’t the only one with inanity in her family.

The fist connected with her shoulder, sending her entire arm numb. Darya clenched her fingers remembering the first lesson of armed combat: never, ever drop the weapon. The metallic taste/scent of blood was heavy on the air suddenly but Darya couldn’t look to see whether it was an ally or enemy who was wounded. let it be an enemy please. she thought stepping back and trying to shake some feeling back into her dead arm.


Janisi trembled and looked desperately for a way out, her grey eyes darting from space to space. Spaces that were rapidly being filled by the Benden riders. If she hadn’t been looking around so much she would have noticed the blade before it flicked out toward her. She fell back, treading on someone else as she did so, but not far enough. At first she thought the rider had missed her, then it hit her that the blood dripping from that blade was hers, suddenly her side was on fire with pain. All she could do was clench her teeth and try to ignore it.


Jarathon cast about desperately for some kind of weapon or ploy he could use, he had to fight Benden, everyone had to. However Jarathon had few illusions about his abilities, he might be broad but he’d never match a grown man in a fight, he had no skill with a knife beyond what was used in the kitchens, and no knife anyway

Odian sensed his friend’s thoughts and dropped a hand to the younger boy’s free shoulder. ‘The pyre.’ He muttered just loud enough for Jarathon to hear. Odain drifted in the direction of the pyre, trying to look like he was backing away from the fighting. He had snatching up a sturdy stick so that he could at least defend himself.

Jarathon drifted after his friend, wondering what was on Odian’s mind.


Redaro looked at the complete chaos unfolding before him as Jinka and Telba took off, more clumsily than usual, to add their two marks worth to the bedlam. Quickly Redaro serched his pockets for the sling he sometimes used in hunting, surely he hadn’t left it behind today of all days. No there it was. A handful of river stones were also removed from his pockets and one set in the sling. Selecting a target Redaro whirled the sling and loosed his rock at a Benden rider. If he was really lucky no one from Selenitas would get in the way and catch it for him.