DCW: On The Weyrbowl Wall (1)

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 26th May 2007

Characters: Ylisahn, Greah, Th'gar, B'har, Malen
Description: Ylisahn witnesses a rescue from the flooded Weyrbowl.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 19 of Turn 4
Notes: Ylisahn's Storm 06 - Storm surge comes ashore

Malen struggled with the runners reins, it was hard enough trying to
make his way against the rising tide which sloshed around his ankles,
but the driving rain spattering against his face made vision almost
impossible. The runner he led, wasn't usually highly strung, but the
combination of howling winds, pelting rain and the abnormally high tide,
had spooked the beast badly enough that he had had to lead it the last
quarter candlemark. He needed to get to cover quickly, this was no
ordinary storm, but the more he ploughed on, the more the runner tugged
against his reigns.

A loud crack reverberated around them, and when the runner reared up on
its hind legs Malen lost control of the reins. The beast reared again,
his foreleg hitting Malen across his raised forearm, the crack that
sounded was drowned out by the howling wind. The runner turned and
cantered off into the distance - away from the Weyr entrance - Malen had
no chance of following.

Cursing soundly, Malen cradled his left forearm in his right arm, and
struggled onwards, against the storm. He managed to make it into the
Weyrbowl, but the waters had risen past his knees and he felt himself
losing his balance against the tide. He stumbled and crashed into the
waters, tripping over something hidden beneath the surface. The pain in
his arm shot further up towards his shoulder, and tears sprung to his eyes.

With his one good arm, he felt along the Weyrbowl wall, searching
blindly for a hand or foothold. He found a step beneath to surface, and
then another, a small crevice in the wall which he was able to slot his
foot into, slowly with his one good arm he began to pull himself clear
of the rising tide. The wind had picked up; his position was by no
means secure and realisation was sinking in, he wouldn't survive out
here for too much longer.

~ ~ ~

Ylisahn brushed her face with her hand. With her free hand because the
other was clinging to the rock at the edge of the dining cavern
entrance. Even sheltering behind the sandbags as much as she could the
wind still tore at her, whipping water into her face. But not rain
water now. This was stuff picked up from the flooded Weyrbowl.

It wasn't the first storm surge Ylisahn had seen since Thayan Peak moved
to Dolphin Cove, but it was the first time the whole Bowl had been
underwater - and it had happened so quickly. It seemed incredible that
the sandbags were holding but they were for the most part, with just
some rivulets leaking through them and the wind driven waves sloshing
over the top.

But what had made her try to get some of the rain out of her eyes so
that she could see better was the movement out in the Bowl itself.
Against one of the walls. Something white fluttering not far above the
water.

She screwed up her face, straining to make out what it was.

Was that a person? On the rock of the Weyrbowl? How could anybody hold
on there?

How _long_ could anybody hold on in the wind that was driving the water
ashore?

~ ~ ~

Th'gar lay between Valieth's forelegs, in the dragon's cavern, anywhere
was better than amongst the crowd who had been assigned to his quarters.
The blue dragon provided enough warmth despite the wind that howled
through the wide opening of the cavern. Th'gar pulled the sleeping furs
closer around him, glad he was inside and not out in the elements. The
pelting rain had made inroads into the cavern, but thankfully the slight
slope of the exit meant the waters ran back out onto the ledge.

}:We are needed:{ Valieth intoned, }:There is someone below us:{

**What?** Th'gar sat up, **You're making no sense.**

}:There is someone out _there_:{ Valieth raised his head, his muzzle
pointing towards the entrance of the cavern. }:I can see him - Iaaeth
shows me:{

~ ~ ~

Don't wasn't the cleverest of firelizards, but she appeared above
Ylisahn just the very moment the Headwoman needed her. Instead of
waving the little green away as she had been most of the morning,
Ylisahn turned her back on the wind and held out her arm so that the
creature could land.

Words were wasted on Don't - except that one word that she heard most
often - but then it wasn't the moment for words. The picture was clear
enough. Ylisahn turned around so that she and the green were facing
back out into the flooded Bowl and into the wind.

The person on the rock wall, the wind, above them somewhere had to be a
weyr and a dragon. Near the dragon would be a rider who would be far
closer and far more useful in the circumstances than Ylisahn would be if
she climbed out into the flood waters and attempted to reach the man by
swimming in the flooding.

With a less-than-graceful struggle out of her arms Don't was airborne,
then gone /between/, hopefully to carry a message to the dragon closest
to the man out in the storm.

Was there anything else she could do?

~ ~ ~

Desperate and defeated, Malen clung to the rock wall like a limpet. All
it would take was for him to uncurl his fingers and allow the wind to
carry him off. He had no idea how high the waters below had risen, he
couldn't feel his feet or his legs, and the only reason he could feel
his arm and hand was because of the pain coursing through both. He had
crushed his left arm between his torso and the rock face - it was
useless to him; this was the only way he could ensure it would receive
no more damage. The fingers of his right hand were dead now; the cramps
and spasms he had tried his best to ignore were gone, numbed into oblivion.

It was a miracle that he was still attached to the rock, he didn't know
how, but he hoped someone, _anyone_ would hear him as he yelled for
help. He didn't want to call out at first, to bring someone else out to
possible injury or death, but the instinct for survival was still there
- he didn't want to die. His voice was lost against the holwing wind,
no sooner had he opened his mouth than the words were ripped from him.
It would be so easy to just let go . . .

Last updated on the May 27th 2007

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DCW: On The Weyrbowl Wall (1)