Hatching of the Tropical Clutch

[Kisha-Ra]

Janisi’s attention followed Tribal bronze to his Impression, she never even noticed sexton egg hatching. The first she knew of it was when the hatchling shrieked and lashed out at someone near her. Pain blossoming and the sudden folding of her left leg let Janisi know the sexton blue had found her too.

She considered it lucky that the blue found someone different to maul, and apparently Impress. Had his attention not been otherwise caught…well she didn’t really want to think about it. She wriggled around on the uncomfortably hot sand, her leg was bleeding quite a bit but it seemed the claws hadn’t gone very deep.

Just as Janisi went to get up she felt something nudge her other leg, she looked around to give the person who just kicked her a large piece of her mind, figuring she might as well if they were going to be like that…and found herself looking into eyes, not at feet. You know what Janisi? I'm Storith! Are you okay? I'm hungry... you know what? Are you really okay? The Green inquired, firing off the questions and statements rapidly.

‘Hello Storith. I’m not badly hurt. There’s some food waiting for you. I’m certain thank you, but if it really bothers you I’ll go to the healers after you’re fed.’ Used to this kind of questioning for the children she’d tended at home Janisi answered every question at once and in order in the pause.

Really? Okay. I’m really hungry. I’m starving Janisi. You know what? We should get that food you mentioned, that would be a very good idea! Storith gave her chosen an appealing look with her head dropped on one side. ‘Come on then.’ Janisi rose and led her dragon (her dragon!) toward the exit though she was sure Storith wasn’t really that hungry.



‘Look, Tenmor, sorry T’nmor, got one of the bronzes.’ Jarathon hissed at Odian, feeling intensely proud of his bunkmate for some reason, it wasn’t even as if Jarathon knew him particularly well. On the other hand Jarathon didn’t know the lad who’d Impressed the other bronze at all so had very little interest.

‘Forget that.’ Odian hissed back, though he didn’t know why, it was quite likely that if he yelled no one would hear him, silence had no place here. ‘That blue just got Janisi.’

Jarathon looked around, he felt oddly responsible for ‘his’ holdbred candidates and would have boldly or foolishly rushed to Janisi’s rescue. However she didn’t seem to need a rescue, a dainty green had rushed right for her. ‘Yes!’ if there was no such thing as a whispered shout before Jarathon had just invented it. Both he and Odian grinned like loons and waved furiously at their friend but she didn’t seem to notice, she was already leading her green off the sands.

[Administrator]

Aslath snorted. They are both too hard-headed to live with,[/color] she informed her mate. She nuzzled him more, now giving it the appearance that she was grooming him. Sometimes, mine will spend the whole day crying about how she misses Yours, and how she's clutching alone, but when I suggest to her to come back, she gets angry and says that she'll only come back if she knows S'rei wants her back. Then she'll start crying again.[/color] She snorted, then grumbled. She wanted S'rei to just head over to the beach where Shmee was at and forcefully drag her back to the Weyr. Then she could enjoy everything again. She could enjoy her weyr by the waterfall, enjoy Salenth's warmth every night, enjoy Shmee's good mood... It certainly seemed perfect. So why couldn't they all just come back together?! They weren't gaining anything from this except the satisfaction of pissing each other off.

Upon hearing that S'rei didn't sleep much anymore, she crooned. Don't worry, love,[/color] she reassured him. I'll drag ShMine back by her collar if I have to. It's getting ridiculous.[/color] She grunted in satisfaction as the silly little bronzes finally Impressed. So, he gave her a note?[/color] she asked curiously. She snorted. Ask him what it says! I want to know, now. I am impatient. When I go back to the beach, I'll hint to her to look in her clothes,[/color] she added cheerfully. Just you wait. They'll be in the same bed tonight, mark my words. I have been oh-so-lonely without you, as well,[/color] she told him lovingly, nuzzling him.

Bugling at the next hatchlings who came from their shells, she passed the word on to Shmee about how the little ones were looking. One seemed mute, but it was not a bad disability. The little one would be just fine. I wish you could see how Mine looks,[/color] Aslath told Salenth brightly, firmly believing she could simply drag Shmee back the moment after the Hatching ended. She has the sweetest little lump on her belly, and her face is getting a bit rounder. She says she is fat, but I know she'll be a twig again after she clutches.[/color] She rumbled in amusement.

[Tashe]

The Shipwreck egg was the first to break into thousands of pieces, spilling it's precious cargo onto the golden sands, as if ready to be raided by the savages in white. A murky green like the plants from the sea, the young female quietly lifted her head up off of the ground. As the crowd finished cheering for the impressed candidates, the Green tilted her head to the side, a confused look passing across her muzzle. She could see the the humans talking, she could see the dragons making noises, she could even see everyone shifting slightly... she just couldn't hear them. Picking herself up off of the shell covered ground, the young female quickly slunk her way over to the females, kreening slightly as the silence became deafening. Winding her way through the crowd of possible girls, the Shipwreck Green squawked when she spotted Her's. In the quiet that surrounded her world, the female leaned against the legs of the candidate. /Sikowymine. Why is everyone quiet? I cannot hear their crooning... I am Linoth./

Picking his way slowly down to the boys side of the dwindling crowd, the Lagoon Blue lazily trundled up to a boy named T'ra, announcing his name as Gartoth. The Bluepair made their way off of the sands at a leisurely pace, in fact they moved so slowly that all three of the rocking eggs hatched.

A Brown, a Blue and a Green graced the sands with their presence, each bringing a different attitude to the world. The blue was the first to regain his wits through the haze of lights and sounds, and was on his feet and quickly heading toward the males, quite certain that he had already found His. Snorting in disappointment as the boy he had run up to turned out to not be the one, the male wasted no time in pawing at the leg of the real His. Claiming a boy named D'niel, Zorith quickly left the sands after Linoth, determined to catch up with the young Green.

The next to regain his wits was the Brown, the dusty male nudged his Greensister before standing up. He was very hungry after spending months in that cramped shell, and his had to be around here somewhere. Giving a final fleeting glance at the last remaining hatchling on the sands, the Northstar Male steadily made his way to the front of the candidate group. It took him a few minutes to slide his way through the legs and feet of the white forest, but he was eventually able to breach the crowd line. Cooing slightly, the Brown repeated the processes, but this time he found the boy he had been looking for this whole time. Placing a paw on the boy's sandaled foot, the male yawned before speaking to him. /N'tianmine. I am hungry. Can we go get food before I starve? I am Elleoth./

Lifting her wings in a flutter, the last hatchling finally lifted herself to her feet and let the audience appreciate her dark jade coloration. Leaning back onto her hind legs, the Compass Green yawned hard enough that it toppled her backward onto the sands, drawing coo's from the crowd. Shaking her head like a feline, the female quickly righted herself before lightly stepping toward the giggling candidate girls. Fluttering her wings in obvious elation, the Compass Green trotted up to a girl named Fiona, telling her that her name was Raiyth. And with the Impression of the Greenpair... the hatching drew to a close, leaving some candidates still standing, and the rest of the viewers to wonder about what they had seen.

[Requiem]

S'rei tried to keep his mind on the hatching, only vaguely noting the wee dragons as they each chose their new lifepartners. He rubbed at his eyes. It seemed so nice though, this thought of sleep, of warmth and pleasant darkness. The Weyrleader found himself nodding off amidst all the noises. ReiMine. He attempted to ignore the annoying voice in his head. Mine! Aslath wants to know about the note. Shmee didn't find it. He sniffed, hunching down further with a frown on his face. Of course she didn't find it. Sharding woman. Leaving him here to the weyr while she went and played on the beach. That's what he got for falling for a goldrider and a child. Mine. In my blue tunic. The one she likes. What does it say, Mine? Doesn't matter. She won't find it. I'm tired, Salenth. Mine? But S'rei had already drifted off.

The bronze huffed, but left His to sleep. Faranth knows, the man needed it. Someone will have to drag him to his bed, the dragon remarked wryly. He would only say that it was in his blue tunic, the one she likes. If she doesn't come, will you stay? he asked plaintively, knowing that Aslath wouldn't, but still wanting her presence. He heaved a draconic sigh. No, she didn't need to answer. Snuggling closer, he watched the last of the eggs crack shell, the younglings waddling over the sands. It was strange not to see Aslath down there. Strange, also, that he felt almost as protective of them as if they'd been sired by Salenth himself. These little ones would be flying in his wings someday. He crooned his encouragement as the last of them came to Impress.

Not so bad, considering she was drugged. No missing limbs. All but the blind one should be able to fly in the wings. And we might be able to work with him, too. Not so bad. He wouldn't likely admit it, but the lead bronze was kind of glad that Rath's clutch had not been so large or healthy as his and Aslath's. It was the drugs. Everyone would agree. Still, Salenth was a proud creature, and his children were obviously from better stock. No. Not glad. Just proud of what he and this gold at his side could produce. You will have to leave soon, won't you? he asked, rather sadly.

***

Mutasim watched as the last of the dragons Impressed. None seemed so cruel as that bronze and blue. None came to him, or even drew close. Relief flooded the young man, but so, too, did a touch of disappointment. It was one thing to believe that you weren't good enough. Another thing entirely to have that fact proven to you, time and time again. Not good enough even for the darkest of dragons, the candidate smiled darkly to himself. At least he would never have to worry about anyone penetrating his darker secrets, right? That made it worth it. Why was he still standing for these things anyway?

Oh. Right. If he didn't, they might send him back to Bitra...

[Administrator]

Aslath crooned. She put the shirt on as soon as she got it, you know,[/color] she informed him. She was relieved to have something that didn't stretch over her. She said it smelled like S'rei.[/color] It was amusing, how specific people had their own smells. Shmee missed S'rei's, and Aslath had missed Salenth's. Rumbling with a draconic sigh at Salenth's question, she nuzzled him. I cannot leave Mine alone. She is sad enough without S'rei. But don't worry, I'll yell at her tonight. She must come see the little ones.[/color] She crooned down at the hatchlings. Like Salenth, she, too, felt protective of them. She was proud of Millieth for producing such fine children, even though her mate was a secret bronze from Benden and would never be as nice as her own children. She stroked Salenth's side with their entwined tails. She didn't want to leave him, but she was determined to be back by nightfall. I do not want to leave,[/color] she told him, melancholy. But, I promise we'll be back by...[/color]

Time seemed to stop for Aslath. Something was not right. Shmee senses it, Aslath sensed it. Then, in a split second, Shmee's side of consciousness went black. Aslath let out a blood-curdling screech, letting go of Salenth's tail and violently pushing herself at the sky. However, she stopped herself. She didn't know where Shmee was! Her hide immediately lost all gold sheen, dimming to a deadened gray. She screeched again, loud enough to make people want to cover their ears and look up at her. She writhed in the air, a gray dancer trying to remember the next part of the dance. Yet this was no dance that she was performing for the whole Weyr beneath. This was horrible, something so much worse than Aslath could ever imagine. Her screech resounded as she hovered in air, never stopping until she ran out of air, at which point she'd just start the inhuman noise all over again.

THEY HAVE HER![/color] she screeched, aiming at all the dragons, Salenth in particular. I CANNOT FIND HER![/color]

She circled in the air, twisting in what looked like physical pain, although it was clear it was, rather, mental. Her screeching never subsided, making people wonder if she would lose her voice. Suddenly, she dove at Salenth, crashing beside him and scratching up her body. Genuinely frightened, she huddled close to him, shaking visibly. She never stopped her screeching as her tail flicked wildly to and fro. This was a nightmare come true. Shmee was lost in the dark, and in a place where Aslath couldn't find her...

[neeuqtar]

The Hatching closed with a series of normal Impressions. It seemed there were few defects in the Clutch, though it was a small one--certainly not as large as Aslath's and Salenth's Clutch had been, but Millieth was weak from the drugs and her Flight had not been a long one. R'non could find no fault with the Clutch his dragon had sired, and let his pride touch the bronze for just a moment. Yes, this had been a good thing, despite all the problems that had come with it. A better thing, perhaps, than staying hidden...

Aslath's shriek woke him from his reverie. Rath--what's she doing here? What's going on?! R'non never liked being without information, and here he was, completely blindsided by the turn of events. I-- I don't know! the dragon responded, startled into the air by the frenzied flight of the gold. R'non ground his teeth and began making his way through the crowd, fighting to get outside. It wasn't that hard--people still unconsciously moved away from him, something that was both annoying and useful. Well, ask her!!! R'non yelled back, hitting the tunnel to the outdoors and reaching a dead run, dodging young dragons, weyrlings, and buckets of meat, taking one greenpair at a flying leap. Lucky they're so short young, he thought grimly, skidding into the light and blinking rapidly as Aslath rammed back into the ground. Rath's half of the conversation drifted back to him.

Ylleth! Winds, sister. A pause. Aslath's. The Selenitas Weyrwoman. What has been done with her? Where is she? Another pause, this one longer. Yes. Their plans? A nearly interminable pause, as R'non's eyes finally adjusted to the bright light outside. Thank you, Ylleth. A pleasure as always. R'non got the sense the conversation was over, and was about to demand answers, when Rath told him. The man narrowed his eyes. Yes, that made sense, in the twisted way that C'leon's plans always did. But C'leon had just played his move, and now it was R'non's turn in the political game...

"Salenth!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, trying to cut through the horrible sounds Aslath was making. Rath, send for me, he commanded. The bronze obeyed without question. Salenth! R'non-mine could not find Yours-- we think we know where they took Aslath's!! Where is Yours? Mine needs to tell Yours where Aslath's is!

[midnight]

Sikowy

Sikowy watched the next green to hatch closely, wondering who she would choose. She seemed a little confused, but Sikowy wasn't sure why. Maybe she was just disoriented from the way her egg had burst open. The green's worried keens went straight to her heart, and Sikowy reached out to comfort her as she came near.
Sikowymine. Why is everyone quiet? I cannot hear their crooning... I am Linoth.[/color]

Sikowy frowned, the joy of Impression mingling with worry for her new lifemate. "What do you mean, Linoth?" she asked, confused.
I can not hear![/color] Linoth repeated desperately, giving another pitiful creel and butting against her rider. It was then that Sikowy noticed the absence of hearing apparatus on Linoth's skull. She sucked in a breath of surprise, then quickly put a damper on her own shock. Surely, things were much worse for Linoth.

That's just it, Linoth. You won't be able to hear anything, I'm afraid. But it's okay, I'll help you along, she said, at a loss for anything that could really alleviate Linoth's troubles. But aren't you hungry? she asked, falling back on the one thing she knew all dragonets shared.

Yes...I am,[/color] Linoth admitted, and Sikowy nodded.
"Let's..." she trailed off, realizing that Linoth would not be able to hear anything she didn't say through mind speech. Let's get you fed, then.

Linoth stayed close to her rider as they left the sands, almost tripping Sikowy a few times. Her dragon's deafness broke her heart, but at the same time, she couldn't stop the overwhelming joy of finding a life-mate. One thing was for sure, life would be even more interesting with Linoth around.

Natian

Natian wasn't sure what was wrong with the green hatchling, but it seemed like she had similar problems to her blind brother. There could be worse things a hatchling was born with, he supposed, but he couldn't help but hope that his own dragon, if it hatched from this clutch, would be strong and healthy.

Next to hatch were a brown, blue, and green. The Blue Impressed quickly, but the Brown paced back and forth in front of the candidates. At first, he walked right past Natian, and he was shocked when the brown came back a second time and stopped in front of him. N'tianmine. I am hungry. Can we go get food before I starve? I am Elleoth.[/color]

N'tian's eyes widened, and an amazed smile spread across his features as he was flooded with the love and acceptance of Impression. "His name is Elleoth!" He repeated, too stunned to manage anything else.

Elleoth nudged him. Yes, mine, I know. Can we get food now, please?[/color]

N'tian laughed at himself. "Yes, Elleoth, of course." With that, he proudly led his new lifemate off of the sands.

[Requiem]

S’rei jerked awake, nearly toppling over onto his sister, who was staring upwards at the shrieking gold. Shrieking gold? Aslath’s is missing. Someone took her? I think. I don’t know. Aslath is…hysterical. Salenth was obviously shaken, but then, who wouldn’t be? The senior queen was making S’rei’s blood run cold. Missing? How can Aslath not know where she is? They’re bonded! Who took her? I don’t know, Mine. I will try to see what I can learn from Aslath… Please. We have to find her. Whoever took Shmee…they will try to use her. They haven’t killed her yet. There must be something they plan to use her for. Then - They won’t kill her if they haven’t already, S’rei repeated, though he sounded more confident than he felt. Who had Shmee? Benden? Fort? High Reaches? Some new enemy they had yet to discover? And what did they plan to do with her? Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good for Selenitas. The Weyrleader tried to push back his own feelings and attack the problem logically.

In the end, though, there were simply too many unknowns.

***

Reysalth hovered for a moment, uncertain. Near those rocks. The green settled in the small outcropping, trying to hide her own anxiety. Did you see - ? The camp? Yes. I did. Empty. Yes. Why would - ? I don't think she knew they were coming. Or Aslath would have gotten to her. She must have been rendered unconscious. They either wanted something of hers, or figured it would throw us off if they took everything. I don't know. Laurie dismounted, creeping over the rocks warily. Someone might have stayed behind. As time went on, and no one seemed to react to Reysalth's presence just down the shoreline, the greenrider edged closer to Shmee's former campsite.

Lauranna allowed herself to draw in a deep breath, scuttling about the sand for any clue as to where Shmee might have been taken. All that remained was a banked fire and what looked like several booted feet. Crouching, she examined the footprints, a pensive frown on her face. Unhurried. Shmee either went with them, or was carried. Probably carried, given what they already knew. They must know that someone would be sent to investigate, which meant...that they didn't need to hurry. Her eyes narrowed. Straightening, Laurie set off into a light lope, looking for any sign of what might have happened, half hoping that she might stumble upon Shmee. A useless hope. The footprints disappeared into a crag, the markings disappearing amongst the rocks. That left two options. Either these were dragonriders, or they had someplace to hold up in these crags. Otherwise, she surely would have spotted them upon her arrival.

***

They're gone, brother. Or hiding in the nearby crags. I'll send some riders out to search the rocks. And Reysalth? Yes? You and Yours...be careful.

The bronze attempted to send soothing thoughts, crooning to the gold at his side as he thrust his own distress into the back of his mind. Aslath. Focus on me a second. Okay? Aslath. Did Yours see who they were? Does she know who took her? Someone did take her, right? We'll find Yours. But you have to help us. You have to tell us what you know. Do you understand, Aslath? Salenth placed a foot on her foreleg, in the hopes he might break through to her. Rath's voice interjected, sending his thoughts scattering. You think you know...How could you know? Rath, if you're hiding something, you'd best tell me now.

Salenth kept the contact from S'rei. Had the Weyrleader known someone had contacted Salenth, claiming to know where Shmee had been taken - the man was likely to get violent. The lead bronze wasn't trusting. Not by a longshot. But he was willing to accept that maybe Rath and His had stumbled upon this - whatever it was. Any information was better than none. If they truly had anything of value, other than speculation. He growled, not liking this one bit.

[Kisha-Ra]

Janisi and Storith leapt in two different directions to avoid the junior weyrleader, just as well really since the man was so set on his target that Janisi would have bet he’d keep right on it he knocked the pair of them reeling.

Storith, do you know what’s happening out there? Janisi asked her dragon, though she doubted the senior queen would have told a hatchling green what had so distressed her. Janisi was truly amazed to receive an answer.

Aslath’s is missing! the young green replied, raising her wings in distress. She is somewhere Aslath cannot see! Someone has taken Aslath’s away! The red tones of hunger in Storith’s eyes were joined by yellow and orange tones of distress and fear and Janisi hastened to comfort her.

Sadly this is one of, I suspect, many situations where a pair as young as us won’t be able to help. Janisi mentally sighed as she ran a hand along Storith’s blue tinted stripes. We should let the older dragons and riders handle it. And you should eat. Red dominated Storith’s eyes again at that comment and she allowed Janisi to lead her off to a quiet, or at least quieter, area to eat.

[Administrator]

Dizzying thoughts spun Aslath's mind into a whirlpool. She could hardly think, lost in the blackness of Shmee's mind. She writhed beside Salenth, her shaking visible to even spectators who sat far from her. With the absence of Shmee's mind, there was nothing to anchor her, to give her the things she thought about. Her eyes whirled in anger and grief. She needed to find Hers! But where was she?! She was alive, of that Aslath was certain. There was definitely something on the other end of their mind link, but it wasn't a conscious mind. She writhed. Where was she!? Salenth,[/color] she pleaded, desperate for comfort. She searched into every nook and cranny of her mind again, searching out something. Wasn't there anything!? She needed Hers! But every time Aslath tried, it was the same scary, familiar darkness.

It took a moment before she realized that Salenth was speaking to her. She snarled at him. Focus?! Don't ask me to focus, Salenth![/color] she screeched into his mind. How could he think that she could focus?! Hers was gone! It took her an even longer moment to start answering his questions. It hurt to think about them, really; how could she function without knowing what had happened to her other half? She racked her brains, trying to piece together Shmee's last moments. I... She... I don't know. She was wading in the water, in the clothes S'rei gave her... and she heard a twig crack. So she turned around, and saw a shadow, and she...[/color] Aslath couldn't finished, instead shrieking her anger and hatred for whatever took her. Pain in her head, and blackness.[/color] She finished, quivering violently. Please find her?[/color] she pleaded with her bronze mate.

--

D'vin raced over to S'rei the moment he realized something was wrong. He was a wingsecond, so perhaps S'rei would allow him to help... Ever since R'anatar's rise to power, D'vin seemed a bit of a mess. During his stays at Fort, R'anatar would try drilling D'vin for information, trying to catch D'vin in the act of lying. R'anatar thought everyone was a prospective traitor, he thought grimly. It was all D'vin could manage to keep R'anatar on his good side. Was it Fort that had done something to Shmee? If D'vin had let slip something to R'anatar... Shard it. Had he said anything about Shmee's disappearance? He broke into a cold sweat. If this was Fort, it was most certainly his fault.

"S'rei!" he called urgently. "What's going on? Who did this?" Nervously, he ran a hand through his black hair. "Would you like me to check on my contacts with Fort?" He grimaced, preparing himself for the worst. He knew S'rei could be... intimidating when he was angry. Undoubtedly, whatever was happening to Shmee would make him so. He hoped he wouldn't get the brunt of the anger... [/size]

[neeuqtar]

Rath stomped and snorted, shaking his head at the flood of emotions from the Weyr. R'non calmed him with a word, the dragon well-trained enough to know that he would be punished for disobedience. Obeying his rider was second nature now... though it had not always been that way for the bronze. I have a... a sister-friend still at Benden. She is green Ylleth, and chose to stay so that we would know who was hunted... including me. The dragon growled and shook his head again, as if trying to clear his mind. She doesn't know just where yet though! But she says that Mosrath's has taken Aslath's, to-- somewhere. She is assigned to sweep outside of a forest, and will try to find her.

R'non grimaced. This was going to be difficult. He had no doubt that S'rei would be willing to toss him off a cliff if he thought he was lying--even though he wasn't. But his habit of hiding things was not serving him in good stead here at Selenitas, though it had saved him so often at Benden Weyr. Rath, just tell him, the man sighed at his dragon. The dragon's eyes flashed red for a moment. Fine. The bronze turned back to Salenth, houghing at his rider. Salenth... we were... augh! The dragon launched himself into the air, his conditioning too strong to break. R'non gritted his teeth. Scorch it, Rath! the man cursed at his dragon.

"Salenth!" the man screamed out, pitching his voice to carry above the mayhem, as he had been trained. "Salenth, we lied about why we came! We were sharding SENT HERE!!" R'non blinked grit out of his eyes. "But we sharding DEFECTED! Ylleth doesn't know, and I think I can get good information, but I need you and Yours to trust me!" His voice cracked from strain, and the bronzerider coughed on his own breath, shielding his eyes from the madness of the air and dust as Rath wheeled in the sky above. Faranth, if they didn't believe him... he was dead. Any why should they believe him. I'm sorry, Mine.... I just... couldn't... Rath apologized brokenly. It's okay, R'non sighed back. I just hope I'm not devoured where I stand.

[Requiem]

The bronze stumbled backwards, shaking his head and growling as the full force of the queen's scream struck his mind. S'rei wavered. His hand fell on D'vin's shoulder as he struggled to regain control. The man shot a glare at Aslath. She was a gold. She should know better than to go into such hysterics, throwing all the dragons into bedlam, including the new hatchlings. Nor did he appreciate her yelling at Salenth like that when her weyrmate was only trying to help, to calm her. The bronze was a stolid male, and would shake it off, but it was still a recklessly unguarded scream that the gold had thrown at Salenth, and he was not immune.

The last thing they needed right now was general pandemonium.

His eyes swirling in open distress, the bronze somehow managed to keep his mind somewhat separate from the stream of emotions pouring at him through Aslath. The little ones were frightened, confused. Fear touched most of the dragons at the Weyr. His children...Salenth's tone took on a touch of bite.We'll find her, Aslath. Do you feel that? It is you causing it. The whole weyr is roused and shaky, and our children are afraid. The hatchlings, too. That is why you must be calm. Do you want the young ones, who don't understand, to Between in their confusion? CALM DOWN. He wasn't about to give her a chance to respond to that, either. Pressing close to her, partly in comfort and partly to impress his physical being upon her, the dragon softened. His mind-voice hadn't risen above normal throughout the whole time. Dragons scour the hills. We will use our contacts. Yours will be found ere long. Breathe. Perhaps if you simply concentrate on slowing your breaths, you might be able to recall more. Hysterics never helped any situation.

As his lifemate attempted to restore some order to the chaos, S'rei took D'vin by the arm, growling in his ear as he attempted to navigate the press. "Someone's taken Shmee, D'vin. Salenth's trying to get information from Aslath." He shook his head, realizing the man probably couldn't hear him all that well. Only S'rei's grip on his wingsecond's arm kept the two from being jostled apart. They needed to get to a calmer area where they might converse. Or maybe somewhere private. For once, the Weyrleader was mostly ignored. Those with dragons were clearly in a near-panic, especially the younger ones, and even those without such bonds were picking up the general fear from the crowd and the screeching queen. Get her under control! At this rate, people will be trampled... Salenth's response was clipped and agitated. I'm trying, Mine. I am.

Salenth's head swiveled toward Rath for a moment. What? Aslath must be affecting the other bronze as well. Or he had something to hide. This was not the time. He really couldn't keep track of everything at once like this. And then R'non's voice carried above the crowd, and he...

...growled imprecations. R'non may not be able to see S'rei, but the Weyrleader had drawn near enough to hear that shout quite clearly. They were mostly escaped from the jostle of the crowd, and the bronzerider relinquished D'vin's arm. Catching R'non by the shoulder, he spun the man, prepared for a violent reaction. His eyes narrowed, dark and unyielding. "Shut up. Just shut up. That's not something to scream in the open air." He let the man go, running a hand through his hair in agitation.

S'rei turned to include both of his wingseconds in his smoldering gaze. It was ironic, really. These were two of the men he least trusted, for the simple reason that they were two of the most capable from the north. He trusted them to avail themselves well in most situations. But then, they were both from the northern weyrs, and he had little reason to believe that either had severed ties with the leadership of those weyrs. Especially now with R'non. A very, very strange state of affairs. "We're going to need to find Shmee, yes, but right now there's this." The Weyrleader gestured to the crush of people and the screeching dragons. "What I need is your help in returning everyone to their beds. Explain the situation. Succinctly. No details. And restore something resembling order." He darted a glance toward Aslath and Salenth. "At first light, I want to see both of you in my office."

[Administrator]

Aslath snarled at Salenth as he berated her. Couldn't he see that she did not want him speaking to her so?! Hers was gone and she didn't know where she was! Didn't Salenth realize that this was so frightening to her? She should have been there to protect Hers... It was stupid to have left her alone! And Salenth was showing no pity. She made a move, as if to try and leap out of the Hatching Ground. Perhaps she would go between, and look for Shmee there... However, Salenth stopped her. She writhed where she was, not wanting him to be right, yet knowing he was. She couldn't alarm the younglings. But Hers was gone! She shuddered, convulsing with hard breaths that had difficulty coming smoothly. She couldn't think straight. She reached vainly for Hers again, but only blackness met her. She let out a sad, weak bugle, collapsing against Salenth, not knowing what else she could do and resigning herself to shutting up at the very least. For the sake of the little ones. But what was she supposed to do?

But they can't find her in the black![/color] she replied, her voice loud and desperate, even if it was only to Salenth. Not realizing that Shmee was probably knocked out and mistaking it for a place, she didn't understand the concept of Hers simply being found. In her eyes, Hers could never be found. Continuing to shake, she shook her massive head in response to his suggestion. She couldn't think, she couldn't think, she couldn't remember. I cannot think! I do not want to think! she cried mournfully. She didn't want to put herself through the memory again. It was too frightening, and she couldn't deal with it. Let me go /between/ to look for her![/color] she begged, writhing again. She couldn't focus...

--

D'vin's lips pursed as he watched S'rei at his obvious distress. He had no idea what to say or do. Nothing of this sort had happened before in his memory, so he could only watch on helplessly as the queen was scaring everyone. It was stupid. Chaos was useless, and was only a headache. Unfortunately, Hiriarth couldn't very well tell a queen to shut up, so he tried to wrench his eyes away from the sight of Salenth trying to console her. His expression unchanging as the Weyrleader pulled him away, his eyes tried to meet the other man's, but it failed. Too much high emotion in the place for him to do so. Someone had taken Shmee...

And suddenly, S'rei had let go of him. Eyes widening as he saw the next person S'rei was charging at, he darted up to them, a scowl forming on his face. "Will you both stop!?" he said with slow firmness, looking around anxiously. If S'rei got violent out in the open like this... The Weyr would be in total weakness if that happened. They couldn't risk that. He knew he probably shouldn't have spoken to the Weyrleader like that-- he never had done anything of the sort, now that he thought about it-- but he remembered the event with S'rei throwing a chair at a Headwoman. And that had been only for irritating Shmee.

He nodded curtly at the commands. He knew to do what he was told. It felt as though he were stepping on glass with S'rei right now, especially if Fort had anything to do with this. Shards, if he had told R'anatar about Shmee's disappearance, this would doubtlessly be all his fault. His face felt oddly warm. "Yes, sir," he told S'rei softly, pausing to make sure there were no more instructions before turning his heel, heading straight to a gaggle of frightened people. Best not think about it as of yet. [/size]

[neeuqtar]

R'non was surprised when a strong grip whipped him around. A knife found its way to his hand in a moment, a reflex rather than antagonism, but he sheathed it as soon as he saw who it was. "Faranth," he swore as S'rei chastized him, running his own fingers through his hair in an imitation of S'rei, though it was a natural reaction. "Sharding mess... I never expected him to pull something like this..." The junior weyrleader was definitely agitated, and angry. "Restore order... got it."

He gave S'rei a half-bow, reacting automatically to the mess around him. "Do I have your permission to have Rath bespeak the crowd? They may quiet and listen if a dragon tells them to, and Rath is willing." Aren't you? he asked, not truly a question at all, but a demand. I will, the dragon replied, voice without inflection. He had certainly contributed to the problem, but Benden's conditioning could be powerful... especially that put upon the bronzes. But R'non was not willing to act without permission again... at least for a little while.

It kept getting him into messes which could easily prove very, very fatal...