Landing Field
The dense jungle has released a large, spacious field from its clutches, which stretches in a slightly irregular circle and is large enough for an entire Flight of dragons to land on and take wing comfortably. The ground is formed of slightly sandy, but mostly hard packed dirt, blanketed by short blades of grass, Southern's testament to grow anything, anywhere. The larger foliage is reserved for the edges of the clearing, where lush green ferns emerge from the fertile soil, and trees spread their branches in an attempt to reach the sky, shading the jungle's undergrowth in partial shadow.
The sun slowly sinks down toward the west, and shadows ever so slowly lengthen. From time to time, a shadow streaks across the claw-gauged field as a dragon soars overhead. The air is still and hot, save for an occasional breeze, which cools the sun-warmed, hides of waiting dragons. The distant crash of waves on the shore promises the cooling waters of the ocean.
Belior and Timor crest the horizon, two half spheres. The slowly blinking stars of the Smithcrafter's Fire appear above, while other stars glitter brightly.

Mickel strides over from the Western Courtyard.
Mickel has arrived.

Atharvan walks over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.
Atharvan has arrived.

L'mir sighs, looking up at the sky with one hand over his eyes as he stares. "Not good, not good." he mutters, glancing toward those arriving.

Atharvan braves the current erratic weather before shaking his head, "This is strange. It's never like this..." He looks around again and draws within himself some, huddling as he shuffles rather than strides toward the landing field.

Mickel doesn't quite bounce into the field, but there's still a spring in her step that nearly gets her blown away by the winds. "Well, if Thread were good, we'd be bad for getting rid of it, wouldn't we? But it ain't, so we ain't, so everything's good. Unless it ain't?" She heads over to where the ground crews are assembling, sure that made everything clear.

Emerlienne walks over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.
Emerlienne has arrived.

L'mir purses his lips, nodding to Mickel and Atharvan. "It won't be easy this time. Then again, it hardly ever is. Brielth's ready though." The bronze snorts, raising his head higher in an indignant posture.

Udeya walks over from the Western Courtyard.
Udeya has arrived.

Anaith ambles across from the Southwestern Weyrs.
Anaith has arrived.

Ariene walks over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.
Ariene has arrived.

Lyrana strides over from the Western Courtyard.
Lyrana has arrived.

Ryann strides over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.
Ryann has arrived.

Panell strides over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.
Panell has arrived.

Benvi strides over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.
Benvi has arrived.

Zarabi walks over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.
Zarabi has arrived.

Corvetten strides over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.
Corvetten has arrived.

Udeya rushes about the landing field, nearly tripping over Anaith's straps as they drag around her feet. It seems like a miracle when she actually makes it to the dragon's side and throws the leather over, getting it neatly on. "Thank you, lovely." She tells the green as she leans her head against her side. "Ready to go kill more thread?"

Atharvan gives L'mir a glance before gazing at L'mir'z bronze, "I've no doubt that the dragons and their riders are ready. They've got to be ready for anything, don't they?" He gives a grimace at the lightning, before quickly walking into the wind, rather than against it. "Could have asked for better weather though. Do you think it'll pass before the Hatching happens?" He blinks at Udeya and nods again, "Riders have must readiness..." He gives a wave to the greenrider, but is more focused on managing not to fall over from the strong winds.

Mickel glances over her shoulder, looks up at Brielth, and grins. "Of course he is. How dare you suggest he might be otherwise. -I- didn't think you'd ever be unready, Brielth," she assures the bronze, having to shout over the wind. She turns to ponder a flamethrower, frowning as she reaches to twist a knob tighter. Once that's done, she beams.

L'mir laughs, "Oh, he's ready and so am I. Right now, he's more interested in Anaith, but that'll change quickly. Hmm. As for the weather, it's hard to say, Atharvan. It might not."

A nervous-looking weyrling huddles by the firestone sacks a moment, rubbing a hand over the sandy peach fuzz that passes for his hair. "Move it, Y'len," calls an authoritative voice, and the boy startles, grabbing a sack and hurrying toward the waiting riders.

Ariene, keeping tight hold to her journal, glances towards the sky. "How will it affect the Fall?"

Atharvan wrinkles his nose and shakes his head, "Terrible weather for a Hatching, but a dragon stops for nothing." He glances from Brielth to the green that Searched him and smiles faintly, "I have no doubt that the weather is but a vtol in their face as far as ridding of Thread is concerned."

Remarra has arrived.
Hannenth has arrived.

Remarra smiles as Hannenth lumbers into view, reaching her hand out to scritch her lifemate.

In the northern sky, Tremaith flies over from the Northern Weyrs.

Prestuth wings in from the sky, meeting up with her foppish rider near the rest of Firedance Wing. Her talons dig into the ground and he winces. "Do you have to do that, darling?" he complains to her, though with the tone of one who says this by rote. "It hurts the grass."

In the northern sky, Tremaith flies toward the broad Landing Field below.
Tremaith flies over from the sky above.
Tremaith has arrived.

K'vay skitters down Tremaith's bronze shoulder to the ground.
K'vay has arrived.

Ryann fidgets as she looks about for something to do. Her gaze turns skyward briefly and she blinks as a streak of lightning cuts through the less than welcoming storm. The same gaze falls on several arriving dragons and she looks as though she'd rather not get too close to any of the larger ones.

Remarra wanders over from the Western Weyrs with predatory grace, brushing her hair back from her face and readjusting her braid, there's a wink given to L'mir before she turns to look to the skies as Hannenth makes a landing: fairly decent in the winds, but then she's one of the heavier dragons.

Rinusara strides over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.
Rinusara has arrived.

Araneth ambles across from the Western Weyrs.
Araneth has arrived.

Aithne strides over from the Western Weyrs.
Aithne has arrived.

In the northern sky, Hamunth soars over from the Ocean Weyrs.

L'mir looks around after adjusting Brielth's straps, giving that extra tug they need. He chuckles at Remarra, just shaking his head.

In the northern sky, Hamunth soars to the broad Landing Field below.
Hamunth soars over from the sky above.
Hamunth has arrived.

Niare finishes checking Lisanth's straps and firestone supply, and turns to check on the progress of the wing.

An older woman with gray and silver hair collects a sprayer, testing it a few times before nodding with satisfaction. She checks the tank with practiced ease, then heads toward the area where ground crew is forming. On the way, she stops by a brownrider. "How is Finna? And Seffin?" The brownrider smiles and replies, "They're well, Briella." The old midwife smiles. "I'll be along in a few days to check on them."

Aithne makes her way out of the weyrs, trailing a few paces after her lifemate. She looks significantly less than pleased, muttering softly to herself.

Remarra saunters past L'mir, appraising his figure with a glance, "You tempt me, L'mir" she adds with a grin, then goes to see to Hannenth.

Emerlienne enters from the Meadow, taking as direct a route as possible from the barracks, muttering mild oaths, and complaining about the weather. She glances about, frowning, then spots the flamethrowers as one of the dragons in the way moves. She heads that way, dodging dragons and people, glad for the relative shelter from the wind provided by some.

In the northern sky, Talaith flies over from the Ocean Weyrs.
In the northern sky, Talaith soars to the broad Landing Field below.
Talaith flies over from the sky above.
Talaith has arrived.

Panell strides over to the Lakeside Meadow.
Panell has left.

Arethea slides down off Talaith landing lightly on her feet, giving the green an affectionate slap.
Arethea has arrived.

L'mir raises a brow to Remarra, then chuckles again. "Tempt me to do what?" he asks as the rider walks by, then tugs at his jacket to ready himself.

Tremaith greets all in a sour bugle, flattening against the rain that is no doubt at this moment completely ruining his oiling. K'vay ignores that in favor of heading toward a knot of weyrlings and trying to pretend that he doesn't have any hair anymore. He gathers the young riders into a knot to issue instructions, sending weyrlings running for firestone sacks and their dragons.

In the northern sky, Teharyth flies over from the Ocean Weyrs.

Laronald races across from the courtyard at breakneck speed, as if his very life depended on it. Looking over his shoulder, he trips over the foot of P'trid who thoughtfully placed it there to stop him in his tracks. Wide-eyed, he complains bitterly. "Look, it wasn't my fault, she didn't tell me I was supposed to wait for the boiled bandages to cool before I handed them to her." As the rider lets him go, the infirmary aide darts behind the dressing table.

In the northern sky, Teharyth soars to the broad Landing Field below.
Teharyth soars over from the sky above.
Teharyth has arrived.

Remarra turns her head to look over her shoulder, "Only in your wildest dreams could you imagine." Then it's back to business, "Hannenth, yes darling, I'm not ignoring you. Truely."

J'cin jumps down off of Teharyth, landing smoothly as his lifemate croons.
J'cin has arrived.

Penthora strides over from the Western Courtyard.
Penthora has arrived.
Penthora cheerfully slaps the back of a fellow Southern Holder. "Might as well help out, we can't get back home until the weather clears." She looks up at the sky, doubtful. "If it ever clears."

Arethea stands beside Talaith tightening her harness and doing last minute strap checks. Turning up her collar against the rain, she sloshes her way over to the firestone.

Benvi strides after Emerlienne and likewise makes use of the shelter some of the dragons do provide. "Hey Merli," she says as she brushes a few stray strands of hair behind her ears. Only seconds later, the wind whips them back out and the hairs proceed to flick and flip around her forehead; this time, however, she lets the hairs stay as they are -- no use trying, really.

Corvetten glances around the busy landing field, a bit overwhelmed by the activity. The Weyr always seemed, to him at least, to be at its best in the moments before Threadfall. He makes his way quietly towards the section of the field devoted to flamethrowers. "Hey, guys," Vette greets his fellow candidates. "Is it gonna be raining wherever it is we're goin'? I really'd rather not be dodgin' whatever thread they don't get in a storm." He smoothes his hair -- or attempts to, really, for within moments the wind has slung it around into the same mess again.

From atop Hamunth, S'tev sits at the ready, firestone sacks full and riding gear all in order. His attention is focused on his wingleader, A'den's helping one of the younger riders get that last sack tied up properly.

Aeris accompanies the rest of the dragonhealer contingent as they begin to set up the long tables in preparation for the fall aheads. Their chatter rises and falls as they set out redwort, numbweed, and hang skins of wine around their neck. Hopefully, their work will be unneeded.

Tugging her rather sausage like arms into a borrowed jacket one size too small, Penthora heads out towards the candidates and residents. "We were told to come and report to the groundscrew team." She gestures to a tall, quiet lad who trots beside her. "We both are on the crew back at the hold."

Aithne begins to ready Araneth for the fall, the rider checking and double checking straps. The gold peers around rumbling softly to her lifemate.

Talaith stands in the rain,wings out-spread, head back and maw open to catch the falling torrent. She warbles, then shakes her whole body, sending even more water flying and gives a shimmy of delight.

Ryann shrugs at Vette's question and looks back up at the sky. "Hard to say for sure, Vette. I hope not, though."

Zarabi steps over from the general direction of the barracks, not far behind her sister, Benvi. She follows her to where there appear to be flamethrowers. As she arrives, she looks to her fellow Canidates and smiles slightly by way of greeting, not talking over the wind.

A group of Weyrlings dash out of the barracks, scattering several firelizards sunning themselves on the steps. They assemble by the Firestone pile, nervously awaiting further instructions.

Atharvan watches as the wings ready and the groundcrew begins preparing themselves. Van himself talks to one of the groundcrew leaders before nodding silently. One of the leaders sidesteps and allows more people to grab agenothree tanks. Van shrugs once to the leader before nodding finally, "Thanks Giorel." He glances to Warrel, who's obviously having a hard time of putting the tank on his shoulders without hurting his hair. Finally, Van secures his own agenothree tank and its flamethrower. He gives a look to the candidates before chuckling, "It's Thread. Nothing new there."

Remarra glances over to Aithne, "Did you want to lead?" Sunblaze's Wingsecond asks the other goldrider, "I'm sure Telinda wouldn't mind, and it'd give you a chance to practice some things you've been working on!"

Emerlienne glances up as someone says her name, nodding at Benvi. At least, she thinks it's Benvi. "Ugh." she says, grabbing the tie that was holding her hair in a pony tail. "Excuse me a sec." Merli ducks between a pair of dragons, providing a little wind protection, then quickly puts her hair into a simple, if rather uneven, plait. She heads back towards Benvi, nodding. "Much better.. Hey Benvi." she says.

Arethea slogs back to Talaith and calls to the green, "Quit playing! This isn't the time for it, Talaith!" Her voice is full of laughter, however and she reaches out to the dragon's muzzle before turning to secure the sacks to her harness.

L'mir watches the proceedings with interest, expression serious as he looks toward the sky. "She may need to practice battling this wind. Hope it lets up soon." To Remarra, he winks. "I thought you did all the leading?"

M'dain turns to give Y'len a grin. "Oh, hey, thanks," he says. "Saves me a trip." He takes the sack from the weyrling and hefts it up into place to tie it onto the green's straps.

That question startles Aithne from her conversation, eyes widening slightly before she nods her head quickly. "I would indeed." She calls back, Araneth peering down at her lifemate.

Panell strides over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.
Panell has arrived.

Udeya pauses and holds her ground as a large wind beats against her back. "How are we supposed to fly in this?" She complains, though she continues to look over the dragon's straps. She scoops up a flamethrower and tests it carefully before pulling herself into Anaith's straps.

Jaila returns to the Healer's table with a packet of needles and a tiny pair of shears. She begins cutting lengths of the thread and threading needles to be set aside for later. She scans the chaos on the field for a moment, then bends seriously to her task.

Remarra wiggles eyebrows at L'mir, "Only where the male of *my* species are concerned, dear! The rest I leave to nature."

Arethea climbs up to settle on Talaith's neckridges, using the straps for assistance. Talaith crouches and croons, eager to be off as she curves her neck around to watch Arethea buckle herself in.
Arethea has left.

Benvi blinkblinks -- somewhat spasmodically, it should be noted, due to the weather conditions -- at Emerlienne's response, taking it as an 'ugh' in response to her very presence. But when the girl dips to fix her ponytail, a look of squinty relief crosses Benvi's features. "Hair bothering you, too?" She wrinkles up her nose and then shifts a bit closer Zarabi -- big sis will protect her from the weather and all.

K'vay pauses to watch most of the weyrlings scatter, then heads over toward the groundcrews, followed by the rest. "Okay, anybody needing a ride to Sadrid, here's where the line starts." A sudden bellow at a weyrling. "Vilyra! Strained wings mean no flying! Not even during Threadfall!"

Methodically and in all seriousness, ignoring the rain, Ariene checks her flamethrower with turns of practice. She watches, for a moment, her father and his blue ready themselves, her face flashing with worry. A small shake of her head dispels at least the expression, and she gives a *small* blast off to the side to test the working condition of the 'thrower..

Kynda eyes her Dragon Kaeth, "Yes, you can start chewing." she rolls her eyes, "No, I will not add sweetener to your firestone!" she sighs and puts her head on the dragon's foreleg, "Kaeth. I know you don't like the taste, but you do like searing Thread, don't you?" she pauses, waiting for an answer. Kaeth turns her head, eyes whirling and almost seems to nod. "That's what I thought... What do you mean the taste isn't so bad any more? Will you just make up your mind?" she shakes her head and sighs again, "Sometimes I think you're more befuddled than a dizzy Wherry!"

J'cin remains in the relative calm by Teharyth's large form, which cuts down on the wind somewhat, looking over his wing as he doublechecks his own straps, tightening the fastenings of the extra sack of firestone before he mounts up.

Ryann peers over the gathered wings and grimaces a little when the dragons move or do something similar. She watches as the riders begin to mount up and a brief expression of 'uh-oh' crosses her features as though she's just realized dragonback is the only way to get the groundcrew to the right location.

J'cin hauls himself up onto Teharyth with the help of a proffered foreleg, settling himself between the Umbrageous Opulence Bronze's neckridges.
J'cin has left.

Aithne climbs up Araneth's foreleg using her straps to make her way up to her neckridges.
Aithne has left.

Atharvan mutters darkly, "I swear, before I was Searched, I was always too weighed down by these tanks." He adjusts the straps before hopping some on the ground, trying to remain in place rather than being moved around by the torrent. Atharvan's eyes glance from the riders before moving with small, slow steps, to Benvi, giving her a grin before telling her, "Ready or not, here we come, eh Vi?"

Atop Talaith, Arethea carefully secures herself into Talaith's jade-green wherhide straps, fingering their glossy smoothness as she tightly buckles herself in with the polished brass buckles.

Remarra climbs onto Hannenth's back with the help of a kindly proffered foreleg and the straps.
Remarra has left.

Corvetten sighs as Ryann answers him. "Hope it stops rainin' before the hatching, too, but I guess we can't say on that, either, huh? Dodgin' thread's gonna be bad enough -- at least the dragons kill most of it. Hatchlings, though? Different story altogether." He shudders at the thought, already anticipating that event. He grins through the rain at K'vay, dragging his flamethrower along with himself. "C'mon, Ryann. Let's go get a ride," he calls to the other candidate.

Penthora checks out the Agonothree Holder she was issued, her good nature overuled by common sense. Grunting softly as she kneels, every strap, nozzle and latch is checked, then rechecked. Wiping off a bead of sweat that trickles down her nose, she awkwardly rises to her feet, grumbling to her companion. "I swear, I'm not going to eat another bubbly, no matter how tempting they look. Be a dear and hold this up while I slip in it" The holder is strapped on and she turns to help anyone who might need a helping hand."

V'tali mounts up on Enaeth, the bronze assisting then rising to stretch up over the crowd. Adjusting his helmet and goggles, V'tali pumps his fist giving the signal to the wings to rise.

----->> Udeya hauls herself up onto Anaith with the help of a proffered foreleg, settling herself between the Bountiful Harvest Green's neckridges.

----->> Atop Anaith, Udeya buckles herself securely into Anaith's flying straps.

----->> Emerlienne rolls her eyes. "You bet. I'm over due for a cut I think." she says, frowning. "If you like, I've some scraps of fabric that you can use to tie your hair back?" she says, "Just a sec.." she moves over and grabs herself a thrower, checking the nozzles and other technical doohickeys, finding all to be in order. Turning back to Benvi and Zarabi, Merli nods, pulling out several strips of fabric in a variety of colours. "Take one. You'd do best to keep your hair back."

----->> From between Araneth's neckridges, Echoing V'tali's movement, Aithne gives the sign for the Queen's wing to take to the skies.

----->> Araneth flies toward the sky over Southern Weyr.

----->> Atop Talaith, Arethea calls out through the rain, "Anyone need a ride? I can take a couple." She leans over Talaith's side to reach a hand down for anyone needing help up.

----->> Zarabi takes one of the flame throwers, checking to make sure it's full and in good repair before nodding. "I am so glad Orisa doesn't mind me using her hairpins," she comments at the hair comments, her hands testing the security of the coils in this wind but so far they seem secure. Despite that, she accepts one of Merli's fabric with a grateful smile, securing the fly-aways whipping around her face behind it like a headband. "Thank you," she smiles.

----->> K'vay pauses long enough to shepherd groundcrew types to the weyrlings providing transport, before he heads back to the grumbling Tremaith. A final glance toward those weyrlings flying firestone to the riders, and he climbs aboard. "Mount up!"

----->> K'vay climbs way up high to settle on Tremaith's neck.

Groundcrew> Penthora has arrived.
Groundcrew> Atharvan has arrived.
Groundcrew> Panell has arrived.

----->> Ryann squeaks at Vette as he begins to move away and she shifts her flamethrower to hurry after him. "You seem really enthusiastic about the dodging of dragonets, Vette."

----->> Atop Anaith, As the Queen's Wing takes off, Udeya looks back to her own and then, giving the signal to the others, she is aloft.

----->> Atop Hannenth, Remarra shifts the flamethrower that rests on her back into a more comfortable position, shrugging her shoulders as she does so to help herself. That done, she pulls down goggles, pushes hair into helmet, and then starts pushing hands into gloves.

----->> Anaith flies toward the sky over Southern Weyr.

Groundcrew> Emerlienne has arrived.

Groundcrew> Corvetten has arrived.

----->> Benvi grabs a flamethrower, following her fellow candidates' examples, and likewise checks over the equipment. She wrinkles her nose and nods at Emerlienne as she takes one of the hair ties; she thrusts her flamethrower at one of the nearby candidates, pulls her hair back, and then grabs her flamethrower from aforementioned candidate. With that, she hitches herself a ride.

Groundcrew> Ryann has arrived.

Groundcrew> Benvi has arrived.

Groundcrew> Mickel has arrived.

L'mir settles onto his bronze, snapping to an alert status until V'tali gives the signal to rise. "Shards, he's fast!", he mutters as Brielth springs up into the Southern air.

----->> Hamunth soars over from the Landing Field at Southern Weyr.

----->> Talaith soars over from the Landing Field at Southern Weyr.

----->> Hannenth soars over from the Landing Field at Southern Weyr.

Groundcrew> Zarabi has arrived.

----->> Tremaith flies over from the Landing Field at Southern Weyr.

----->> Brielth disappears into Between.

Between
Black...
Blacker...
Blackest!

You suddenly emerge...
Sky above Sadrid Hold(#3828RFJae$)

----->> Araneth flies over from the clearing of Sadrid Hold.
----->> Hamunth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!
----->> Anaith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!
----->> Tremaith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!
----->> Teharyth flies over from the clearing of Sadrid Hold.
----->> Hannenth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Groundcrew> Lyrana has arrived.

Groundcrew> Atharvan is dropped off by bluerider S'kiel before he and Duosinth leave for the air. Smiling happily, Van looks up at the sky, "See? Much better weather." He shakes his head, "Aside from KJ, I don't think there is anything more beautiful than Sadrid." He shifts his tank around some before giving a wave to the other candidates. He looks rather calm considering the position the groundcrew is now in, like his usual sedate self. He glances to Benvi and Zarabi, giving the sisters a big grin, asking them both, "How's your day been?"

----->> Talaith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

----->> Anaith is nearly blown off course as she reappears into a large gust of wind. She beats her wings to steady her course, with Udeya glancing behind her to check the rest of the wing. When the pair is finally back into formation, Udeya begins to scan the skies.

Groundcrew> Mickel gives the transport dragon a pat on the toe when she slithers to the ground, an agenothree tank cheerfully borne on her back.

Groundcrew> Ariene slides from the back of an older weyrling's dragon, scratching his eyeridges before allowing him to go back to his firestone duties.

L'mir sucks in a big breath, though he does manage to flash a smile toward Remarra. Or maybe that's just to inflate his chest? The smile fades as he steadies Brielth against the wind, then gives a shout, "There! See? To the East! It's coming!" Sure enough, the Thread Menace begins to fall in just a few moments.

Groundcrew> Zarabi checks her flamethrower one last time as she lands, scanning the skies for the approaching Thread. "Well, I went out on the sands. Terrible weather for being on the sands," she says with a nod, her skin still reddened by the abrasive shower of sand. "But it hasn't been too bad, considering there was very little to weed," she says with a slight grin.

----->> As Firedance appears out of between, Niare turns back to check Firedance, motioning for a few changes in position.

Groundcrew> Penthora chuckles as she looks about, finding the speaker and focusing on Atharvan "But soon enough these numbweed fields will be stinking pretty bad, that is, if we do our jobs, and keep the thread away. Not sure that KJ lass of yours would be like to be compared to a bunch of stinky 'weed." She shrugs her shoulders, adjusting the straps once again. "Last one who used this must have been a strapping lad.

Groundcrew> Panell is dropped off by a greenrider, before shooting back up into the sky. Lightly carrying a flamethrower in his right hand, he joins the other candidates, giving them a nervous look. "Well, this should be interesting." Panell says quietly as he shifts the flamethrower to another hand. "It has been, quite strange, hasn't it? The weather anyway."

----->> Mounted on Tremaith's neck, K'vay swears softly to himself when Tremaith emerges from *between*, the bronze fighting to stay in place.

----->> Talaith appears and gets buffeted by a cross-current that nearly flips her sideways, but she manages to flod her wings, fall and correct her course. She flaps to regain altitude and position in formation, bugling to Anaith as she does.

Araneth.........................................Aithne
Anaith..........................................Udeya
Teharyth........................................J'cin
Talaith.........................................Arethea
Vercath.........................................A'den
Hamunth.........................................S'tev
Tremaith........................................K'vay
Hannenth........................................Remarra
Fields near Sadrid Hold ........................Ariene Atharvan Benvi Emerlienne Lyrana Mickel Panell Penthora Ryann Zarabi

----->> Teharyth is too large to be blown about much by the wind gusts, although he does seem to be struggling a bit to maintain his place in the formation with any efficiency and exactitude. A brief blast of flame gives him an idea of how well it will burn and turns his head for another chunk of 'stone, crunching it as Stormfall wing wheels to the east, towards the leading edge.

Groundcrew> Lyra slides down the back of the bronze that has brought her a few others who work in the Infirmary. Spotting the group of Candidates who are going to be working groundcrew she smiles and wanders over. "You all ready?" she asks
with a pleasant smile.

Groundcrew> Emerlienne attempts to slide gracefully in a single fluid movement from the back of a dragon. So, to recap, Emerlienne stumbles awkwardly to the ground. She grimaces, standing up and dusting herself off. But she doesn't appear to be hurt, in fact she's more concerned about the flamethrower, but after a thorough yet quick examination, it is fine. "I'm ready." she says.

Groundcrew> Ryann slides down from between the ridges of a weyrling's green dragon and she doesn't look completely comfortable. Wide green eyes scan the sky and the dragons before they turn to who is around her. She looks over her flamethrower again and nods, "I'm ready."

----->> Hannenth positions herself in Sunblaze, as her rider looks around and mentally positions everyone into place, including the chromatic riders with pregnant riders. That done she turns back to the front and watches for the leading edge.

Groundcrew> Atharvan blinks at Zarabi, "I missed an egg touching?" He wrinkles his nose and shrugs, "Oh well. I've gone to a few already, so I suppose it doesn't matter. Do the eggs look any harder, Zara?" He gives the elder sister a hopeful look before looking to the sky where the rider-dragon pairs lie in readiness. He gives Emerlienne a warm smile, "You'll do fine, Merli. We are after the best candidates Southern has ever seen." He grins, "Despite my modesty, even."

----->> R'mon reaches down into the firestone bag, pulling out a large chunk, which he tosses to his dainty green. Julieth cranes her neck to catch it before crushing it in her jaws, with bits of ash flying about from her mouth. A moment later, they bank to the west, following Monsoon wing's preliminary attacks at the Thread.

Groundcrew> Ariene nods silently, "I'm ready." She smiles nervously. "Even though I've done this a hundred times, it's a thrill each experiance." Her eyes drift to the dragons, "I can't even think about exciting it is for the riders."

----->> Araneth begins to slip into her accustomed place, Aithne offering Remarra a wry smile as she guides her lifemate to the fore of the diamond formation. She gives her flamethrower a test before she readies herself for the fight to come.

----->> Atop Talaith, Arethea feeds Talaith two small peices of firestone in quick succession, then wraps the riding strap around her wrist twice as the green bobs up and down on the wind. She grabs ahold of the edge of Talaith's harness and leans forward as the green surges--or is she pushed--forward by the gale?

----->> Varooooooom! Kaeth flies through the air with the greates of Ease! And Kynda "Whoops!" in exultation. "Ready Kaeth? Let's go fry those buggers until they're fishy food!" Kaeth and Kynda fall into formation with their appointed wing, straps secure, flying leathers set into place.

Groundcrew> Benvi slips down from her escort's side only to be near-dazed as the blue takes off in a flurry and whirlwind of rain and grit. She shakes her head and then steps quickly to Zarabi's side and gazes upwards to watch the dragons in that particular awe with which the girl still regards the motions of dragons. She clears her throat and then glances down at her flamethrower and then finally she glances a bit sheepishly at the other groundcrew members. "So...this again."

----->> A huge clump of Thread falls downward, caught up in the swirling wind currents. The writhing mass seemingly headed for Tremaith and K'vay!

Groundcrew> Ariene sighs softly, closing her eyes in nervousness as it begins. Her eyes fly open and she prepares.

Groundcrew> Zarabi shakes her head at Atharvan's comment. "It was not much of an egg touching - we were allowed to touch the eggs but we were also supposed to help pick up debris from the storm," she explains, her eyes wandering up towards the sky, where the dragon wings are assembling. "The egg I touched seemed quite a bit harder than last time, though I don't know how hard they have to be. Oh it's starting!" She points at the approaching front up in the air.

Groundcrew> Mori adjusts the straps of her 'thrower and calls back to the three young residents who trot in step with her to come alongside of her. With a business-like tone, she patiently goes over simple rules. "Don't aim atanything living besides Thread, don't keep your finger on the trigger and sneeze and don't flirt." She checks and double checks her own trigger and release systems and releases nervous energy by rocking from heel to toe, waiting for the Groundscrew Chief to give the order to go.

Groundcrew> Emerlienne glances to Atharvan, with a small nervous smile. "We are, aren't we?" she asks, nodding. Merli glances up to the sky, shuddering at the first mess of thread she sees. "I'll be making a new panel for my quiting." she muses, more to herself. "Yes. When we get back, I'll make a whole new one. I wonder.." she mutters along to herself, finding that talking helps her from being nervous. No matter how many times, thread always makes her nervous, for good reason.

----->> J'kiri scowls as he pops out of *between*, taking a moment to assess his situation before muttering, "Stupid bronzerider, I'll talk to K'run about that foolheaded move, nearly cost me my shardin' life..." The grousing trails off as he directs blue Aeciath toward a clump of thread.

----->> Lisanth flits between and a heartbeat later another green reappears to take her place, Lliaryth in the position Lisanth had been in.

----->> Tremaith doesn't even notice at first, his first concern snapping off quick alterations in The Plan to the weyrling dragons, due to the weather. It's one of those weyrlings who bellows a warning, and the bronze winks *between* without a second thought, diving after the clump to flame when he reappears. Now that's teamwork!

----->> Talaith heads for a silver strand that twists and hurtles sideways on the wind, only to fall for a few yards before getting snatched by the wind again and blown sideways again. She opens her maw and bellows out a gout of flame as the wind almost seems to try and feed the thread to her by pushing it straight down her throat. It is char before it passes her front teeth, however.

----->> Anaith makes a loud noise as she banks off to the west, narrowly avoiding a clump near her wing. Her rider tosses her a second rock which she bites into with an audible ::crunch::. As she opens her mouth to attack a second clump, blue flame licks out, incinerating it.

----->> P'sryn keeps a steady hand on the straps as he urges Sailinth up higher into position. The blue responds in kind and together, they wait with the rest of Cloudchase, scanning the horizon for more glimmers of the silvery foe.

----->> Tippyth seems about to dive for another clump, but veers off. "All yours, J'kiri!" And then he's off /threading/ through the sky, striking poses whenever it's safe. Is it obvious he's just out of weyrlinghood?

----->> Hannenth slips through the air like a knife through butter, wing tilting to change her angle, and then powering down to change velocity -- target is seen, and with a flick of the flamethrower Remarra sees to its demise. Nothing, only dust, is left.

----->> Atop Talaith, Arethea grabs for the harness again as she is rocked by the gust that hit Talaith in the face. "Careful, Talaith! That was cutting it close!" She cries, voice shaken.

----->> Atop Teharyth, J'cin ducks as Teharyth flames his first patch of thread, avoiding the hot ash that is blown so quickly back at him by the harsh win. His scarf is tucked more firmly in place, as much to protect him from the ash as from the smoke blowing backwards, playing havoc with his respiratory tract. Another stone is tossed into bronze maw before they are winging towards another tangle.

----->> The sky is lit with flashes of flame, littered with the ash that is the only evidence of Thread's former presence. Suddenly, a large clump of it heads directly toward Anaith!

----->> Jaila thumps Terrilth on her velvety green neck. "That was a super-fast take-off, my dear! Let's go get that Thread!" The dragon folds her wings and swoops into her place in formation with ease.

----->> It takes Araneth and Aithne a few minutes to adjust to their new position, the rider peering over a shoulder to make sure that the formation has remained intact. Her attention is soon diverted as Araneth dives, her flamethrower reducing a remnant of thread into ash.

----->> As the leading edge begins its plummet, Julieth opens her mouth to expel a dancing blue flame. It cuts into a large clump, with quickly disintegrates.

----->> Tremaith swerves and turns, trying to watch everything at once. Thankfully, two sets of eyes are better than one. The bronze hovers, flapping only to stay in place against the wind (which actually makes hovering easier) exuding encouragement to the Wings and keeping his ears open.

----->> Cornflower blue Tamuth jerks sideways abruptly, throwing S'lis back hard enough to jolt him in the safety harness. Coughing, the stout man mutters a small thanks for the thigh straps on his fighting set. Tamuth, unconcerned, shifts back into position behind M'dain's lifemate. Swirls of Thread spiral downward through the riders toward Hannenth.

----->> Atop Anaith, Udeya doesn't see the thread falling until it's too late. The clumps the greens tail and she cries out before blinking between.

----->> Anaith disappears into Between.

----->> D'rist glances back at J'kiri makes a reappearance, sighing with relief once he spots the greenrider once more. His attention thus distracted, it is the green beneath him who spots the nearby tangle just in time for the greenrider to direct Erasith to flame the Thread.

----->> Anaith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

----->> Talaith squeals as a fleck of hot ash from another's flamed thread is blown into her face by the capricious winds. She blinks Between and out cooling the burn, then it's back to business.

----->> Hannenth refuses to be thwarted by her ancient enemy, banking to the right and slowing to avoid the tendrils of thread that unravel from above like balls of wool. As they near, and then pass, she drops, gaining speed, and putting Remarra in position to flame. A bright flare bursts forth, the thread caught within a fireball that slowly changes from red to yellow as it heads to the ground.

----->> Screams of pain from the dragons remind the rest of the riders to remain alert, though the continuous pour of silvery Thread is more than enough of a reminder in itself to most. From the left, the wind whips a tangle of Thread closer and closer to Hamunth's side.

----->> Vercath bugles a warning to Hamunth just before he, himself ducks between to avoid an errant clump.

----->> Atop Anaith, Udeya's expression is one of immense pain as she and Anaith blink back into sight. Still, they are flying and both continue on. The woman tosses her lifemate another bit of firestone and they bank to the east, wounded tail and all.

----->> Hamunth vanishes between, reappearing a dragonlength behind his original position, right behind the clump that was angling in on him. A gout of flame erupts from the dragon's maw, incinerating the clump into a fine powder of char. The rider glances over to his wingleader and gives a thumbs-up, showing all is well.

----->> M'dain shoots a look towards Oo'mer, his frown hidden behind goggles and helmet. Prestuth catches a thermal, her wings arching wide to make the most of it as she blasts Thread from the sky, getting all but one strand, which drifts down to be caught by Vercath below.

----->> Atop Talaith, Arethea scans the skies, looking for Anaith's retun and heaves a sigh when she re-appears. She calls to Udeya, "Is she hurt?" But it's unclear if the sound even makes it to the intended target as the wind rips the words away in a roar. Talaith takes that moment to climb towards a high-falling clump and Arethea's head whips back as the green lunges forward.

----->> Weyrlings begin to appear, bringing fresh sacks of firestone. One young blue screams and disappear, making Tremaith check and pause, but he relaxes almost immediately (or as much as possible, considering Thread is falling). Just ash char.

----->> Gusts of wind blow the clumps of silvery death across the riders' paths, endangering the unwary as the threat comes not only from above but from the west.

----->> Vercath re-emerges from between into a clear spot that gives him a bare handful of seconds breathing space in order to refuel his flame before the next clump descends toward him and he meets it with a fierce blast.

----->> Atop Teharyth, J'cin shouts a warning to a greenrider in his wing as Teharyth wheels, turning the clump of thread that falls right where the green winked between into blackened char to fall harmlessly to earth.

----->> As the wind shifts, as does Arathne. Aithne uses the nozzle of her flamethrower to point to the west. "Be wary!" She shouts back to the others in her wing. Her words puncuated with a blast of flame.

----->> Sailinth bugles a welcome to Aeciath and dives right after his wingmate, neatly clipping the remains of the clump. As quick as his descent appeared to be, his return to formation is even swifter and he sails forth with a bright flame leaving nothing but ash to fall below.

----->> Talaith whips her head to the side to take out a clump blown at her from the side and it is charred to smoke-dust. There's no flame left for the high clump she was after, however, and she winks between to avoid it while bellowing out a warning to those flying below in it's possible path.

----->> Talaith disappears into Between.

----->> Atop Anaith, Udeya turns towards words which are being shouted her way, but doesn't indicate whether or not she can understand them. Her expression is laced with both concentration and pain, even as Anaith continues to flame another clump out of the sky. The green's tail is obviously scored, though not so badly as to cripple her.

----->> The chromatics begin to tire, traveling *between* more and more often to avoid Thread that relentlessly continues to fall upon the wings. White-faced weyrlings attempt to bring refills of firestone to the riders in need without injury, few succeeding completely. A young pair miss the Silvery Menace, having it fall directly into Teharyth's path.

----->> Talaith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

----->> Lliaryth disappears between, Lisanth reappearing in almost the same position a breath later, renewed by her rest. She surges ahead, flaming with vigor.

----->> Teharyth returns to his place in formation, just in time to spot the clump of thread left by the young pair - wings pump as he surges forward to meet the deadly menace, an efficient burst of flame taking care of its downward progress in a very permanent way.

----->> As quickly as it came, the Thread shower begins to slow down, allowing some lifemate pairs time for a brief respite. Faces show some relief as tiredness overwhelms the ranks.

----->> D'rist coughs as soon as he makes his reappearance, gasping for the breath that he didn't have time to take before disappearing between. A glance around confirms both that J'kiri is here and that new firestone supply is near. Motioning for a sack to be thrown his way, he catches it easily and opens it to pick out a few chunks to feed his green.

----->> Tremaith flaps his shattered sunrise wings to keep in place to one side of the wings, but even his stamina has been taxed, and he does look exhausted. Almost there... almost to the end. Catching messages from a few dragons, his faceted eyes glaze, then weyrlings appear to toss sacks for those few who need replenishment for the final assault against the shining enemy.

----->> Tzath bugles eagerly, perhaps a little too eagerly, as he dips to-and-for emitting short but effective bursts of flame. His rider? Left to hang on for the most part and provide the firestone, offers the odd exclamation as a clump gets a little too close for comfort.

----->> Talaith strains to fly against the winds, her forward speed slowed, her flight nothing like her normal agile flying. She's obviously tiring, but game as she folds her wings to pounce after a falling, twisting, deadly tendril. Flame billows from her snout, the end of the tendril bursts into a flame that flares along it's lenght and the thread disintigrates into crumbled ash.

----->> Terrilth dives for a falling clump, the strands of which are suddenly blown, twisting into the path of a small dainty blue and his rider. Terrilth veers off avoiding a collision. There's a terrible scream from the blue rider as the Thread wraps itself about the rider and they wink out *Between*. Long seconds pass into minutes and they do not return, will never return. The dragons give voice to their passing even as they continue on to carry the fight against the Enemy who has once again robbed them.

----->> Atop Anaith, Horror crosses Udeya's features as the dragon and rider pair are lost. After a long moment, she makes a motion for someone else to take the blue's place in formation. Anaith appears to be tiring, partly because of her injury or perhaps because of her fight against the wind.

----->> Finally, the Silver diminishes, dwindling to a sparce few. Riders work hard to finish the task, tiredness showing on their sooty faces. Finally, it ends. It has been a good fight, but it's time to go home soon.

----->> Atop Talaith, Arethea thumps Talaith along the side of her neck and cries a "Well-done!" to her as the pair struggle upwards to regain their place in formation. The green is clearly pleased with herself, but her color is faded somewhat after her mournful acclaim for the dead blue and his rider. Both look towards Terrilth to see if they are ok and look relieved as they see the pair.

----->> Vercath looks tired, nearing exhaustion from the constant battle with the winds in addition to the rigors of any Fall. As the Fall slacks and then ceases, he peers this way and that even as his rider looks up and down and around, making sure everyone is there who ought to be, and that there really is no more Thread for now.

----->> L'mir is clearly exhausted, his face black and sooty. He adjusts himself on Brielth, leaning forward to pat his lifemate's neck. "Well done." he says, "Let's go home." V'tali gives the signal for the wings to return, glad expressions on rider's faces as their wings leave the Hold skies.

----->> Tremaith droops somewhat, letting the wind toss him a bit, though he manages to remain at his chosen altitude. Only after all the weyrlings have retreated does he lift his head, waiting for the signal to return to the Weyr. Once that is attained, he disappears.

Landing Field

----->> In the northern sky, Talaith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Talaith soars over from the sky above.
Talaith has arrived.

Ryann has arrived.

Lyrana has arrived.

Panell has arrived.

Benvi has arrived.

In the northern sky, Vercath emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!
In the northern sky, Vercath soars to the broad Landing Field below.
Vercath flies over from the sky above.
Vercath has arrived.

In the northern sky, Tremaith flies toward the broad Landing Field below.
Tremaith flies over from the sky above.
Tremaith has arrived.

In the northern sky, Anaith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!
Zarabi has arrived.

K'vay skitters down Tremaith's bronze shoulder to the ground.
K'vay has arrived.

A'den lowers himself off of Vercath, jumping when his feet are close enough to the ground to safely do so.
A'den has arrived.

In the northern sky, Anaith flies toward the broad Landing Field below.
Anaith flies over from the sky above.
Anaith has arrived.

Atop Talaith, Preparing to dismount, Arethea unbuckles herself from Talaith's riding straps, checking the parts nearest her for signs of wear and strain.
Arethea slides down off Talaith landing lightly on her feet, giving the green an affectionate slap.
Arethea has arrived.

Landing Field

People: Arethea A'den K'vay Zarabi
Benvi Panell Lyrana Ryann
L'mir Atharvan Ariene Corvetten
Emerlienne Penthora
Dragons: Anaith Tremaith Vercath Talaith
Brielth Lisanth Teharyth

Arethea stands tiredly beside a softly moaning Talaith, unbuckling the harness as quickly as she possibly can with hands that shake. As soon as the straps are off, the dragon sprawls on the ground with her eyes closed.

Penthora helps the younger and smaller off the dragon, then whispers to the rider. He nods easily and she smiles her thanks as they lift up to the hold.

Penthora strides over to the Lakeside Meadow.
Penthora has left.

K'vay slides down Tremaith's shoulder to rest against the bronze for a moment, as much confirming that both of them are still there as catching breath. Then Tremaith butts tiredly at his lifemate, and Vay heads over to where the Weyrlings are gathering for debriefing.

Atop Anaith, Carefully loosening the straps framing her waist, Udeya unbuckles herself from the flight straps, preparing to dismount.

Atop Anaith, Udeya doesn't waste any time. As soon as Anaith touches down, she leaps out of her straps and scrambles toward the greens tail, breathing heavily "Anaith! Oh shards!" She cries out before scanning the landing field. "Healers!" She calls out dramatically.

A'den looks nearly as tired as his dragon as he slowly peels out of helment, goggles, and gloves and unfastening his jacket before he gives Vercath a thump on the side and then goes to check on the rest of his wing.

Arethea gives one last look at Talaith's hide, smears the numbweed on the char burn on her muzzle, then runs over to where Udeya is. "Is it bad, Udeya?" She asks, concerned.

Lyra's over the the rest of the Healers handing out banadges and numbweed at a furious pace. Udeya's cry catches her eye, and she hops around the table to make her way over to the greenrider, supplies in hand. "What is it?" she asks, "Is it serious?"

Atharvan frowns darkly as he glances to Udeya's scream, quickly scanning Anaith for 'scoring. "Shards," Atharvan utters softly, shaking his head, "Is there's anything I can do to help, Udeya?"

In the northern sky, Teharyth soars to the broad Landing Field below.
Teharyth flies over from the sky above.
Teharyth has arrived.

J'cin jumps down off of Teharyth, landing smoothly as his lifemate croons.
J'cin has arrived.

K'vay glances quickly toward Udeya to confirm that she isn't hurt herself, Tremaith half-quelling an anxious croon toward Anaith. But the rider gives the dragon a sharp look, and they get back to work, assessing Weyrling injuries.

Atop Anaith, Udeya seems to shaken up to be any help. "Her tail." She whines, almost like a child. The greens tail shows the open wound where a large clump of thread had hit. "Oh she hurts." The dragon makes a noise of pain, but is obviously less upset than her lifemate.

L'mir slowly checks out Brielth from muzzle to tail, seeming satisfied that he's all right. As he shuffles tiredly among his wingmates, he mutters to himself, then finally collects his equipment. "C'mon, Brielth, let's go and get washed up." A weak smile is sent to those around him as the bronzerider heads down the path away from the field.

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