An Unfortunate Mishap Pt 1

Writers: Avery, Devin, Miriah
Date Posted: 2nd September 2015

Characters: A'dryn, A'kades, Lanniya, R'kehr, Fadira
Description: Orlaith's weyrlings /between/ for the first time.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 4 of Turn 8
Notes: Pt 1 of 2; Follows Overdue Reunion

Lanniya

A'kades surveyed the class who were standing by their dragons, suited
up in their flying leathers all neat and ready. They'd been drilling
their visualizations all sevenday before, and now it was time for the
moment of truth. Nerves gnawed at his own stomach, knowing how much
was on the line here. No wonder some of the other staff hadn't wanted
to be here. But he would be confident for them, because someone had to
show the class they had faith.

"Any final questions before we head off to practice?" he asked them.

Lanniya laid her hand on Anaeryth's side as she watched the others in
her class. She saw some nervous faces and instinctively checked on
their dragons, just to make sure. Everything seemed to be alright and
none of them seemed to mind her silent nudges of encouragement. Her
own nerves were more from excitement than any fear that she wouldn't
be able to do it; she had utter faith in Anaeryth's abilities and
Anaeryth could only be described as perfectly serene and calm.

A'dryn took deep, slow breaths while trying to keep Nalarith calm. She
was thrilled at the idea of finally going /between/ and had hardly
stopped talking about it all morning.

The Weyrlingmaster's Second surveyed them all, waiting for a last
minute inquiry. But nobody made a move to ask, so he continued on with
the instructions. Often it was a straight flight out before
/betweening/ back. But A'kades suspected some of the youth were scared
of the sensory deprivation. Going through it once on a good visual
would get them used to it, so that the second time they could focus on
the image, and not on the sensations.

"We'll be going /between/ as a class to a point not far from here.
Once we're there, you'll start imagining the Weyr's Star Stones. I
know you know these reference points after all of the drilling you've
been doing. And then you'll check past us before you go. Come on," he
encouraged.

He mounted his bronze and took off, then waited for all the weyrlings
to array in the air before Volaith passed them the image. }:Here is
the clearing where we are going,:{ the bronze said, making sure all of
the dragonets got the crisp, clear image. Then he blinked /between/
and out into the open sky.

Lanniya and Anaeryth kept the image firmly in their mind, but she had
to stifle her gasp as she felt the cold nothingness seep into her
bones. }: I am here. :{ Anaeryth reassured her. }: We are fine. :{ The
gold's mindvoice was calm and steady.

They appeared behind Volaith in the burst of warmth, the sensation of
touch, smell and sound permeating Lanniya like a rich blanket. **We did
it!**

}: Of course we did. I did not ever doubt. :{ The calm assurance was
still there, but it was touched with a definite sense of pride.

A'dryn had only been /between/ once when he was taken to the Weyr. The
darkness and lack of sensation were just as he remembered, but having
Nalarith with him made the experience much less frightening. **This is
what I was born for.** Being a rider, fighting Thread. And that meant
he needed to get familiar with /between/.

}:Yes, this is what dragons do. And what riders must do.:{ Nalarith
said, and then then were back in the world.

A'dryn blinked and looked around him. Had everyone made it? He spotted
Anaeryth -- she was always the easiest to pick out -- and smiled at
Lanniya.

Everyone was with them and assembled in formation. A'kades smiled at
the crowd and raised his voice, the baritone rolling out to cover
them. "We'll be going back to the Star Stones one by one. Pass your
visualization to me."

}:Anaeryth, do you wish to go first?:{ The bronze dragon thought the
gold should have the honor, but his rider knew that her rider might
not want the pressure.

}: I will go. :{ The gold was quick to answer. }: It is a good example
for the others. :{ She sent her visualization in, the image sharp. }:
We are ready. :{ At the signal, the gold blinked /between/ and
emerged, triumphant over the Star Stones. She announced her success
with a proud bugle, and Lanniya answered with a 'whoop!' of
excitement.

A'dryn breathed a little sigh of relief when Nalarith announced that
Anaeryth had made it. Losing his best friend would have devastated
him, not to mention how terrible losing a goldrider would be to the
Weyr.

}:They arrived,:{ Volaith sent to his rider. Then to Anaeryth, he
sent, }:You did well!:{

A'kades wanted to sag against his straps in relief. If they'd lost
this clutch's goldrider...

"Next up is R'kehr and Thadath," he said.

The bronze weyrling passed along a marvelously clear image. A'kades
nodded and Volaith told them to go.

They popped out by Lanniya and the brown-haired weyrling waved at her
with a cocky grin. "We did it!"

Rather than send another metallic rider, he decided to change things
up a little. "A'dryn!"

The greenrider's heart leapt, one part nervousness, two parts
excitement. }:We will do well,:{ Nalarith said, full of confidence.
A'dryn held the image in his mind, just as they'd practiced many
times. Then he had Nalarith pass it on to Volaith. Once the
Weyrlingmaster Second gave them the okay they went /between/. A'dryn
pushed his worries far back in his mind and focused on getting them to
the Star Stones.

Heat and light burst around him as they emerged at just the right
spot. A'dryn pumped his fist, a wide grin on his face. **We did it!**

}:Of course. We were made for this.:{ Nalarith radiated pride.

"And next is Fadira," A'kades said, back at the group of weyrlings.

Though they'd been /between/ twice now, it still was terrifying to her.
And now she was all on her own. No visualization from someone else to
guide her and her green. Just her imagination and hoping it was right.

Ihlath projected reassurance at her. }:I will take you. You know where
to go.:{

Fadira closed her eyes and tried to make her picture of the Weyr. They
just had to go back there. If they got back there safe, they'd be senior
weyrlings. And then maybe they could go wherever they wanted to go. Like
home.

Ihlath blinked /between/...

...and came out somewhere else.

Ihlath bugled in fear and reached out to every dragon she could think
of. }:Volaith! Anaeryth!:{ She reached out to the strange watchdragon
too. }:I don't know where we are.:{

Fadira shook her head. This wasn't the Weyr. There were no other
weyrlings. They were floating in the sky near mountains, over a large
free-standing building. The ornate stonework made her realize where she
was. It looked like the Minecraft Hall by Garnet Valley, where she'd
been born.

Like a hunting canine, Anaeryth seemed to go immediately on point at
the cry of distress. }: Where are you at? :{ The young gold circled
over the Star Stones as she tried to reach Ihlath and waited for a
response.

Hearing the cries of her fellow weyrling, Lanniya didn't even pause a
moment before offering her own comfort. **It'll be okay, Ihlath. We're
going to help you. Just stay calm. Anaeryth, are they alright?**

}: She showed me. :{ The image she had received from Ihlath was clear,
though the emotions behind them were frightened. Picking up a wordless
assent from her lifemate, Anaeryth blinked /between/. The gold
emerged above the other weyrling pair. }: We are here. Calm. Be calm,
Ihlath. We will not leave you. We will help you back.:{

}:Ihlath is not at the Weyr,{ Volaith reported.

**Where is she?** The Weyrlingmaster's Second's heart constricted. The
dragons weren't keening - she wasn't dead. So she must be missing.

}:I am getting the image.:{ Volaith was quiet for a moment as he reached
out.

**Tell all the others to stay where they are,** A'kades ordered.
**We'll bring her back.**

Volaith passed the order on to the weyrlingstaff and the weyrlings, then
he took them /between/ to where the young girl waited.

When they emerged, A'kades' heart nearly stopped again. There was
Ihlath's rich verdant hide - and there was a golden one next to it.
Irritation and relief warred within.

**Tell them to land. Both of them.**

}:You must land. Now.:{ The bronze projected clear authority.

**What's going on?** A'dryn clutched the riding straps, heart pounding.

}:Ihlath went somewhere else. Anaeryth followed.:{ Sensing her rider's
fear, she added, }:They are fine. Volaith is with them now.:{

A'dryn waited with the other confused and nervous weyrlings.

Last updated on the September 7th 2015

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An Unfortunate Mishap Pt 1