Delivering Stone

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 19th April 2015

Characters: Riveenata, K'lvin, A'kades
Description: Riveenata's first experience delivering firestone.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 2 of Turn 7

Like many on the weyrlingstaff, A'kades found this part of
weyrlinghood the most stressful. /Between/ and flaming were risky
times, but the first time facing real Thread claimed the most weyrling
lives. At least ferrying the firestone sacks was a gentle introduction
to Fall, if any could be classed as such. This wasn't the sevenday
where they'd flame it themselves for the first time.

The bronzerider looked over the weyrlings while they waited for the
resupply call. "Remember, get in, make the throw, get back to the Weyr.
If you're hit by Thread, /between/ will kill it. Make sure you're
keeping the Star Stones in mind in case you need to jump."

He'd said this before, drilled it into them repeatedly over the last
sevenday. Firestone carriers didn't flame, they tossed. But there was
always that one glory hound who thought they'd be tough enough - or
the person who panicked when Thread hit them or their dragon and
snapped into /between/ without the end picture in mind.

He had done as best he could to instill that surety into the new
riders, in the time he had with them. Now it was out of his hands, up
to each rider and their dragon.

Threadfall had started a half candlemark before, which meant resupply
calls were beginning to be called in. A'kades dispatched the first few
pairs, holding his breath every time they disappeared, exhaling with
relief when they came back unscored.

Riveenata didn't have time to brood on her nerves with Savith tense
under her, burning with desire to leap into the sky and flame the
Thread. She did, she thought about how unusual it was to not be
preparing to treat casualties. At the beginning of weyrlinghood there
had been no time to resume her healer duties. As it had gone on,
though, they'd woven the new writers back into rotations. But now she
was off that again. It was quite the change.

}:Volaith says we're up next,:{ Savith warned.

She wondered what wing they'd be send to aid, and what it was like to
actually be up there fighting it.
}:Checking,:{ the green said. Her tone held reluctance as she reached out.

K'lvin's lips were twisted into a snarl as he turned in his straps
once again. Where the feck was his firestone?!

}:Savith. Stone. Now.:{ Xmrenth ordered, catching sight of the green
Weyrling waiting in the skies

}:Incoming,:{ the green warned. She had to arrow up to get them within
reach the Wingleader's bronze, making a sharp turn that jolted her
rider.

Riven signaled to the bronzerider, then threw the next bag of stone,
watching it arc in the air towards him. Meanwhile Savith kept watch
for any Thread that might brush by them.

K'lvin snatched the firestone sack, making it look easy as he ripped
the stone from the sack and fed it into the powerful, waiting jaws of
his bronze lifemate. Tucking the empty sack beneath a taut riding
strap, the Wingleader gestured his thanks to Riveenata.

}:Hold on.:{ Xmrenth ordered as he surged forward, putting his large
body inbetween Savith's much smaller one and a fresh clump of Thread
that was heading their way. Opening wide, the bronze dragon unleashed
a wide spray of flame, leaving nothing but the charred remains of the
silver spores to blow away in the wind.

Riven was startled as the bronze's body moved to interpose himself
between her and Savith. The green's reaction time was quicker and she
folded her wings to drop out of the way and give the bigger dragon
more clearance. The flame roared out from the bronze and ashed the
Thread right before their eyes.

**Thank Xmrenth,** Riven thought to her.

}:Thank you,:{ Savith told the bronze. }:We'll resupply two others in your
wing before we're out of bags.:{

**Who else needs stone,** Riven asked, concentrating hard on controlling
her green's instinctive need to fight thread.

}:Nereth, who's _here_:{ Savith said, blinking /between/ and reappearing
by the blue. Riveenata threw a high arc, the rider caught it smoothly,
waving a thanks.

**And?**

}:Askyth,:{ and again the green brought them there and they made the pass.

They had no more bags of firestone to throw, which meant it was time to
escape the chaos of Threadfall. **Back to the Weyr,** Riveenata thought,
picturing the Star Stones and the bowls below.

Savith blinked /between/, taking them back. They reappeared and landed
next to the other weyrlings in the bowl. Riven gave her friends and
classmates triumphant grin as she landed.

"Well done, Riveenata," A'kades said to her, relieved that another
weyrling had survived her first time seeing Thread unscathed.

Then he turned to the next weyrling. "E'tas, to Rapids! Volaith has the
coordinates..."

Last updated on the May 5th 2015

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Delivering Stone