Threadfall

North Bowl> Nicoth warbles greetings as T'lar dismounts.

North Bowl> T'lar slides precipitously down from Nicoth's back.

North Bowl> T'lar has arrived.

North Bowl> Meroth warbles to Nicoth.

North Bowl> Torinth thrums at Nicoth, turning her head to call brassily at M'kla, still inside the caverns.

Benden LC> Alyssa then says to Davidon, "We can always use assistance getting the supplies ready for 'Fall... Thank you for offering."

Benden LC> P'tran nods to M'kla. "Still, I want some of the heavier dragons near front and northern flank since they'll bear the brunt of this, supported by greens and blues on either side

Benden LC> T'fian nods. "Okay. T'lar's outside. I'd like you to meet me out there in a few moments."

Benden LC> T'lean shudders....healers in training...(fortuantely I've avoided those RL...trainees trying to draw blood is not fun...)

North Bowl> Jeody has arrived.

Benden LC> M'kla nods at P'tran, and turns to head to her dragon.

North Bowl> M'kla comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

North Bowl> M'kla has arrived.

North Bowl> T'lar salutes the rider emerging from inside. "Yes, sir."

North Bowl> Jeody walks beneath the lintel and disappears into the living cavern.

North Bowl> Jeody has left.

North Bowl> T'fian smiles. "How's Nicoth at flaming?"

Benden LC> Jeody has arrived.

Benden LC> Alyssa smiles quietly and nods toward the bowl. "Then please, come along...I'm Alyssa, by the way...an apprentice dragonhealer."

North Bowl> T'lar says "Doing well, sir. He was overdoing it a bit during practice, but I think we got it under control now."

North Bowl> Alyssa has arrived.

North Bowl> T'fian nods. "Okay. I've two questions for you. How do you feel about Kassima being wingleader. And secondly, how do you feel about yourself as wingsecond?"

North Bowl> Davidon comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

North Bowl> Davidon has arrived.

North Bowl> Kassima has arrived.

North Bowl> P'tran has arrived.

North Bowl> Maarie has arrived.

North Bowl> T'lar's eyes go a bit wide, but he considers carefully before answering. "I think Kassi would do a great job, T'fian. And I would like to think I'd do well also."

North Bowl> Alyssa turns toward Davidon and says, with a nod at her bundle, "I need to lay my son down...I'll be right back."

North Bowl> Alyssa signals Thiva's mottled green Avivth, who flies from the Star Stones to give her a ride to Pavanth's ledge.

North Bowl> Alyssa has left.

North Bowl> Above, Laerth leaps from Leilanth's Ledge and flies into the air.

North Bowl> Laerth backwings for a landing.

North Bowl> Jeody comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

North Bowl> Jeody has arrived.

North Bowl> Jeody moves beneath the rocky overhang that protects the Infirmary entrance.

North Bowl> Jeody has left.

North Bowl> Nicoth moves out of the way of the landing dragons and warbles welcomes.

North Bowl> Alyssa pats the neck of Thiva's mottled green Avivth, thanking them for the ride from Pavanth's ledge.

North Bowl> Alyssa has arrived.

North Bowl> Davidon nods, and moves clear of all the busy folks, eyes watching the goings on.

North Bowl> Kassima salutes all the riderfolk smartly, heading over to Lysseth to check over her straps.

Benden LC> Portock has arrived.

North Bowl> Laerth gives a snort as he backwings for a landing, already starting to look over the assembling dragons with a critical eye.

North Bowl> Jeody emerges from the infirmary.

North Bowl> Jeody has arrived.

North Bowl> Alyssa returns in amazingly quick time, changed into a warm tunic and breeches. "This way..." she says and walks toward the infirmary. "And your name is...?"

North Bowl> Torinth crunches her stone noisily, lifting her head to warble at Laerth around a mouthful of fragments.

North Bowl> Kassima turns back and nods to T'fian. "All right, sir." She glances over to T'lar. "T'lar, could you get that set of weyrlings over there to start filling 'stone sacks? I'll take care of these over here."

North Bowl> T'lar salutes T'fian with enthusiasm. "Yes, sir. Excuse me, I need to check on Nicoth and start feeding him firestone." He moves over to the weyrlings.

North Bowl> Maarie makes her way over to Zuseth checking her straps carefully.

North Bowl> T'fian picks up a bag of firestone as he awaits a response and tosses it over to a friend in Skyfire. "No, Meroth and I aren't flying with you tonight," he responds to an unheard question.

North Bowl> P'tran does a check on Laerth's straps and tightens one side. He turns to the others. "Start getting into formation. Weyrlings! Start distributing firestone."

North Bowl> T'lar organizes some of the weyrlings together bagging and distributing firestone.

North Bowl> Portock comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

North Bowl> Portock has arrived.

North Bowl> Portock goes over to Alyssa to see what has been prepared already.

North Bowl> T'fian moves around between the fighting dragons, giving various riders bags of 'stone as they need them.

North Bowl> Kassima starts sacking stone along with the rest of the weyrlings, gesturing for a few of them to take places at the end of the weyrling chains and hand them out to riders once they're filled.

North Bowl> Alyssa smiles briefly at Davidon. "Well met. The infirmary's this way. Hey, Portock...come to help carry things?"

North Bowl> M'kla tosses aside her empty sack aside, and motions for a second one. Torinth sits, eyes half-lidded as she digests her lithic snack.

North Bowl> Davidon moves beneath the rocky overhang that protects the Infirmary entrance.

North Bowl> Davidon has left.

North Bowl> T'lar tosses M'kla a sack and moves on to others in that wing.

North Bowl> Alyssa then catches sight of Jeody. "Come on, Jeody...we could use you for a few minutes too..."

North Bowl> Alyssa moves beneath the rocky overhang that protects the Infirmary entrance.

North Bowl> Alyssa has left.

North Bowl> Portock grins, "Of course, as long as it is light and doesn't have to be fed to a dragon."

North Bowl> Tzornth lumbers here from the south.

North Bowl> Tzornth has arrived.

North Bowl> J'van, near the end of the chain, tosses a full sack to M'kla and another to B'fus when he sees that rider signal for more sacks as well.

North Bowl> P'tran catches a sack of firestone as it is tossed to him and empties it into his dragons's mouth one 'stone at a time. He watches the others as well, and occassionally shouts to them when he sees something out of place.

North Bowl> Portock moves beneath the rocky overhang that protects the Infirmary entrance.

North Bowl> Portock has left.

North Bowl> Tzornth glides into the bowl, and bugles firmly as he settles himself into his place near Laerth. Already on his back and clad for Fall, his rider looks around quietly.

North Bowl> Meroth rumbles, his eyes whirling quickly. He steps near the other dragons in Skyfire, then hesitantly moves over to the weyrling formation.

North Bowl> Nicoth rumbles something to Meroth and he moves over and joins the other young dragons.

North Bowl> T'lar grabs a couple of weyrlings and steers them in the opposite direstion with firestone. "Thunderbolt looks to have enough. Check on Skyfire."

North Bowl> Meroth turns his head to look at the large bronze and rumbles back to him.

North Bowl> P'tran now takes the sacks that are handed to him and attaches them to the extra loops on his dragon's straps, then a few to the loop on his belt. He closes his jacket and walks to the front of the formation.

North Bowl> Maarie goes to help the group Kassi went to look over, grabbing a couple of sacks and carrying them over to a nearby rider.

North Bowl> Alyssa emerges from the infirmary.

North Bowl> Alyssa has arrived.

North Bowl> Kassima snags a few weyrlings and hands them empty sacks, pointing them in the direction of Aerie. "And once that's done, go distribute some to Dawnslight as well." She turns to regard one of the chains. "Myra, didn't you learn anything about sacking during Candidacy? Those bags should be filled full, not halfway!"

North Bowl> T'fian thoroughly checks over his riding straps before buckling them around Meroth's neck, making sure the straps are snug and secure.

North Bowl> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan, as the weyrlings bring him the needed firestone, sets to the business of getting Tzornth chewing it. The bronze does so with the smooth readiness of Turns of practice.

North Bowl> T'lar drops a couple of firestone sacks before Nicoth and Meroth. He jogs off to ensure that everyone is well supplied.

North Bowl> Portock emerges from the infirmary.

North Bowl> Portock has arrived.

North Bowl> P'tran calls out, "All right, this Fall is going to come in off the ocean and head straight over Valley Hold," he starts to explain

North Bowl> T'fian nods in thanks to T'lar and starts feeding Meroth the 'stone quickly.

North Bowl> Portock comes out carrying the sutior kit and his own bag.

North Bowl> Around Tzornth, several of F'hlan's fire lizards flitter in red-eyed alertness; gold Narie chitters imperiously to bronze Sioll and the rider's flock of greens, apparently making her very own little Wing.

North Bowl> Torinth warbles insistantly at M'kla, as her rider stops to lean on her hide. Immediately, she returns to feeding stone to the dragon, apparently turning her head to listen to P'tran.

North Bowl> Zibrith lumbers here from the south.

North Bowl> Zibrith has arrived.

North Bowl> Elyandra walks here from the south.

North Bowl> Elyandra has arrived.

North Bowl> Kassima gestures for the weyrlings to pipe down, listening carefully to hear over the commotion of sacks being filled.

North Bowl> Alyssa sets down a tray of supplies and motions to two drudges behind her to bring out a table with more supplies. She pauses to look at the gathering dragons, smiles briefly and nods to Elyandra as she arrives, then moves about her business again.

North Bowl> T'lar whispers to Kassima. "Move forward a bit and you can pass back anything we might miss due to noise."

North Bowl> P'tran continues, "after Valley its going to head over the hilly area to the west. We have to keep fighting it there as there's some cotholds scattered in and around the area. The winds are from the north and steady, but expect it to be tricky over the hills."

North Bowl> Elyandra runs in behind Zibrith, who is charging through. She stops as Zibrith joins the group, skidding to a stop at her dragon's shoulder.

North Bowl> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan lets his fire lizards raid the droppings from Tzornth's share of the firestone, as he himself listens gravely to P'tran's briefing.

North Bowl> Elyandra has left.

North Bowl> Kassima nods and dusts off her hands, moving closer to where P'tran is speaking--pausing along the way to tap a weyrling and give her commands to supply Elyandra with firestone.

North Bowl> A weyrling runs up with 2 firestone sacks for Zibrith.

North Bowl> M'kla tests Torinth's straps, then grabs on tightly as she swings up, the green rising to her feet in a fluid motion at the same time.

North Bowl> M'kla climbs up Torinth's side with the help of the riding straps.

North Bowl> M'kla has left.

North Bowl> Portock goes to the infirmary overhang and grabs some supplies laying by the enterace and brings them to the 'healer section' of the bowl.

North Bowl> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan buckles himself into the riding straps.

North Bowl> Maarie makes sure Zuseth has enough firestone before checking the straps a final time.

North Bowl> Astride Zibrith, Elyandra yells down, "Don't be afraid to toss it up, weyrling. I won't break!" She buckles herself in and holds up her arms.

North Bowl> The weyrling stammers an apology and hurls the sacks up to the greenrider.

North Bowl> P'tran concludse, "After the hills it should stop somewhere over the plains and farmland in that area. I don't think it will head all the way to Bayhead, but I'm not entirely sure."

North Bowl> T'lar's ears perk up at the name of his home hold.

North Bowl> Astride Zibrith, Elyandra catches the sacks easily, fastening them to Zibrith's straps. She calls down, "More! C'mon, hurry up!" She nods to P'tran.

North Bowl> From atop Torinth, M'kla straps herself in, carefully checking the belts as she does so...

North Bowl> Aphrael comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

North Bowl> Aphrael has arrived.

North Bowl> Kassima puts two fingers in her mouth and gives a sharp whistle, catching the attention of another weyrling who hurries to fill Elyandra's request.

North Bowl> T'fian hurridly motions Aphrael over. "Get Prefeth ready to flame," he calls.

North Bowl> A collection of vials and bottles are set down near the table, along with a bowl of redwort, and with all-too-practiced ease Alyssa gets the supplies in the order to which the healer staff is accustomed. "You two over there -- you have a free hand; can you help toss firestone?" she calls brisky. "We're almost set here." A pair of apprentices hurry off to help the weyrlings carry stones.

North Bowl> Aphrael blinks and looks up at T'fian, nodding and selecting some sizes of stone, feeding them to Prefeth.

North Bowl> P'tran adds, "And make sure your flight suits are closed tightly! It is very cold up there with a driving wind!"

North Bowl> Torinth rumbles, moving into her accusomed spot with Skyfire.

North Bowl> From atop Torinth, M'kla idly does finish buttoning up her jacket, as if she hadn't thought about it before.

North Bowl> Near Tzornth, F'hlan's two oldest children, Fahloran and Mehlani, arrive only long enough to call good-luck wishes up to their sire. The bronze rider's grave demeanor lightens a bit, and he leans over, letting his lowered hand reach to ruffle the two young heads as the boy and girl scramble up Tzornth's leg, then quickly back down again.

North Bowl> Meroth looks over at Torinth and rumbles.

North Bowl> Maarie feeds Zuseth a last piece of stone and pulls her helmet and goggles from a pocket as Zuseth chews the stone loudly.

North Bowl> Portock raises his eyebrows as he watches Alyssa prepare everything with great efficiency.

North Bowl> Kassima repeats the instructions about the 'Fall to those weyrlings who couldn't hear properly, then points them in the direction of their own dragons. "C'mon, Moonrise, get your tails moving and your dragons ready to flame," she calls, running over to do the same for Lysseth.

North Bowl> T'fian slips on his helmet and goggles, strapping the helmet around his chin securely. Then he pulls on his riding gloves.

North Bowl> T'lar begins feeding firestone to Nicoth.

North Bowl> Meli comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

North Bowl> Meli has arrived.

North Bowl> Aphrael buttons up her jacket, glancing upwards, then watches Prefeth chew slowly.

North Bowl> Astride Zibrith, Elyandra catches the next group of firestone sacks, loading up her dragon with as much as she can carry. She feeds piece after piece to the green beast with the red fire in her eyes.

North Bowl> P'tran turns to Kassima. "Kassima? You will take your wing in when we call for you. That should be just short of the halfway mark before the Hills. Be VERY careful. The winds are likely to start getting tricky at that point."

North Bowl> Alyssa smiles fleetingly at Portock. "Did I forget something?"

North Bowl> Kassima nods. "Aye, sir. What direction will the more difficult winds most likely be coming from?"

North Bowl> T'fian chuckles at Kassima, thinking he's made a good choice. He tosses in one final 'stone to Meroth and chuckles at the loud crunching.

North Bowl> Portock shakes his head as he looks at the table of supplies laid out before him. "I don't see how you could have, you have thought of about everything."

North Bowl> Davidon emerges from the infirmary.

North Bowl> Davidon has arrived.

North Bowl> T'lar moves around, checking on the other weyrlings. "Not too much too soon." he tells one overeager rider.

North Bowl> Astride Zibrith, Elyandra calls down to Alyssa as Zibrith spews a stream of fire skywards towards the wall, "Lys! I'll be back to help with the injuries!"

North Bowl> P'tran says "From the north. Its a steady crosswind, but expect some eddies and updrafts if we have to cut it close. We'll try to bring you in before the winds get bad.""

North Bowl> Alyssa waves to Elyandra and calls, "I hope you understand that I don't need to see you later for that...!"

North Bowl> P'tran calls out. "MOUNT UP!"

North Bowl> Astride Zibrith, Elyandra blinks at Alyssa, "What?"

North Bowl> Aphrael calmly tucks her hair under her helmet, looking more relaxed than she feels after the rope drills.

North Bowl> T'fian grabs Meroth's riding straps and pulls himself up, swinging his leg over Meroth's neck and settling in.

North Bowl> Kassima nods thoughtfully. "Aye, sir," she repeats. "We'll be prepared for the worst. Weather is unpredictable at best." She salutes and returns to getting Lysseth sufficiently stoked with firestone.

North Bowl> Alyssa shakes her head. "Nothing, Elyandra. Take care of yourself and Zibrith!!"

North Bowl> T'lar directs the weyrlings out of the center of the bowl to give the rest of the wings plenty of room for takeoff.

North Bowl> P'tran grabs one last bag of firestone and nods to Kassima before heading over to his own dragon. he attached the bag to the last remaining free loop on his belt and heads up.

North Bowl> P'tran climbs up onto Laerth in one smooth motion.

North Bowl> P'tran has left.

North Bowl> Maarie finishes getting Zuseth ready and pulls Zuseth off to the side a ways, giving the nearby riders more room to take off.

North Bowl> Aphrael starts to drag some firestone sacks nearer to Prefeth, getting ready to load them on after the riders take off.

North Bowl> Torinth beats her wings soundly for once, and trills in excitement.

North Bowl> Davidon makes his way to Alyssa, to see what he can help with.

North Bowl> Astride Meroth, T'fian quickly pulls off his riding gloves and fastens some extra sacks on the loops of his riding straps. He pulls his gloves back on and turns to look in longing over at the fighting dragons.

North Bowl> From atop Laerth, P'tran looks around and shouts, "Everyone in formation!"

North Bowl> Juliath munch-a-crunches at the edge of the formation, as Meli continues to move, adjust, toss, tie and generally stay out of the way as well.

North Bowl> Tzornth RUMBLES brassily

North Bowl> Alyssa waves to Davidon. "Bring that redwort here, please..."

North Bowl> TzornthRUMBLES brassily; off by the Bowl walls, Fahloran cheers in eager anticipation. His quiet sister just watches the activity, her blue eyes wide.

North Bowl> Portock quickly goes to the infirmary overhang to avoid the masses of dust when the dragons rise.

North Bowl> Davidon does as he's asked, handing Alyssa the redwort, "Here you are."

North Bowl> Zibrith BUGLES! Her eyes blazing red fire at thought of the enemy. She looks skywards, bellowing her challenge.

North Bowl> Lysseth rumbles and steps aside to allow the Wings plenty of room, chewing noisily on her mouthful of 'stone. Kassi busies herself with fastening extra sacks, prepared by the weyrlings whose dragons are already sufficiently 'stoned (so to speak), as Lysseth crunches.

North Bowl> From atop Laerth, P'tran gives one final look, his dragon lifting his head, eyes whirling brightly orange. P'tran lifts his arm and lets it drop in the signal to launch.

North Bowl> Myklarr walks here from the south.

North Bowl> Myklarr has arrived.

North Bowl> Laerth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft.

North Bowl> Athena bursts out of *between* and flutters around daintily.

North Bowl> Tzornth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft.

North Bowl> Athena flutters around daintily before disappearing *between*.

North Bowl> Above, Tzornth soars up quickly in Laerth's wake.

North Bowl> Torinth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her aloft.

North Bowl> Davidon moves his eyes to watch the dragon lift off, then returns his full attention to helping the dragon healer.

North Bowl> Aphrael carefully heaves up and adjusts the sacks on Prefeth's back, choosing not to watch the dragons as they rise up in the bowl.

North Bowl> Zibrith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her aloft.

North Bowl> Myklarr looks up after the dragons longingly. He hesitantly moves over towards the other remaining people. "Do you, uhm, need any, uh, help," he asks Alyssa hesitantly.

North Bowl> Kassima checks the fastenings again before turning to the weyrlings with another piercing whistle. "All right, Moonrise! We still need plenty of extra sacks--you there, K'ral, can surely make yourself more useful by filling them than by just leaning on Frazloth's shoulder and waiting!" She shakes her head at the weyrling, and directs a few others with idle hands to help him out. Turning to the busier ones, she calls, "Who needs more sacks?"

North Bowl> Portock goes into the infirmary quickly and emerges with his now familiar 'wait chair'.

North Bowl> T'lar pops a few more chunks of stone into Nicoth's mouth. As the dragon crunches away, he fastens sacks onto the straps for carrying.

North Bowl> Alyssa smiles at Myklarr and nods. "Yes, please. I always appreciate help getting ready for 'Fall. Oh, wait...can you toss the weyrlings some firestone sacks for a moment while I finish setting this up?"

North Bowl> Above, From atop Laerth, P'tran waits for the formation to settle in flight around him and his dragon

North Bowl> Above, Salith leaps from Salith's Ledge and flies into the air.

North Bowl> Above, Zibrith follows close behind Chiloth, filling in the space usually filled by a much larger bronze dragon.

North Bowl> Myklarr nods, swallowing and grabs the sacks, tossing them up to weyrlings that need them.

North Bowl> Meli's head lifts to watch the wings momentarily before she resumes her work, tying sacks on Juliath even as she checks the straps once more and supervises the green in her chewing.

North Bowl> T'lar nods to Myklarr. "Thanks."

North Bowl> Above, From atop Laerth, P'tran looks around and lifts his arm. After a moment's pause he lets it drop to signal the move between.

North Bowl> Above, Laerth disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Above, Zibrith disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Above, Torinth disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Above, Tzornth disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Above, Salith disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Myklarr doesn't look at T'lar, quickly moving away to give the next weyrling some sacks.

Sky over Valley Hold> Zibrith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Sky over Valley Hold> Tzornth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Sky over Valley Hold> Salith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

North Bowl> Portock sits back and watches the dragons wink out between overhead.

North Bowl> Alyssa's shoulders sag as the dragons pop out one by one. "This is the part I really, truly hate," she mutters with a sigh, then, squaring her shoulders, she gets back to work.

North Bowl> Davidon decides he's no good with getting things set up, he moves to lend a hand at hefting firestone sacks, at least that he can do with no problem.

Sky over Valley Hold> Zibrith BUGLES! She pumps her wings to gain altitude, following behind the larger dragons. She turns her head to TRUMPET to Draeth, and he bugles in return, notifiying her that he's right behind her. Her eyes spark blood red as she looks for the deadly silver menace.

North Bowl> T'fian quickly slides down Meroth's outstretched foreleg and jumps to the ground.

North Bowl> Portock grins at the dragonhealer, "I will never get used to it, the waiting."

North Bowl> Aphrael chuckles softly and rubs at Prefeth's shoulder as he rumbles, then quickly resumes adjusting the sacks, hauling up some more and settling them into place.

North Bowl> Alyssa looks up from where she is setting vials on a table. "Good, Davidon, thanks...after the dragons are loaded, can you see about carrying some water from the infirmary? There are jugs in there..." She nods to Portock, smiling thinly.

North Bowl> Kassima finishes loading Lysseth up with sacks and surveys the line with a nod. "All right, time to get into formation. Standard V--you know the drill. Juliath, near the end--Nicoth, take the head of the left side. Prefeth, be on the right, opposite Klavrith." She keeps on calling orders, gesturing to the appropriate places. "Once you're in position and have all your sacks, mount up and get ready to launch!"

North Bowl> Meli climbs smoothly up Juliath's extended foreleg and settles herself between the neck ridges, as the green gives a welcome rumble from deep in her throat.

North Bowl> Meli has left.

North Bowl> Atop Juliath, Meli buckles herself into the riding straps, checking carefully to make sure she is secure.

North Bowl> T'lar salutes Kassima. "Yes, Wingleader." He smiles widely.

North Bowl> T'lar is catapulted up by a quick movement of Nicoth's snout. He gets the bronze an affectionate slap.

North Bowl> T'lar has left.

North Bowl> Maarie grins to Zuseth, matching her look of mischiefbound delight before using her forelimb to climb up onto Zuseth's neckridges.

North Bowl> Maarie has left.

North Bowl> Meroth moves in the formation, behind Prefeth.

North Bowl> Astride Juliath, Meli tugs on her gloves once more, then pulls her goggles down, adjusting them slightly. She gets a good grip on the straps with one hand, takes a calming breath, and sits quietly watching Kassima and T'lar.

North Bowl> Myklarr watches the weyrlings mounting up and turns to Alyssa and Portock. "Do you need any more help?"

North Bowl> Alyssa stands for a moment, hands on her hips and murmurs to Portock, "I wish they wouldn't be so cavalier about this...one of them is going to get hurt..."

North Bowl> Davidon nods, stepping back to watch the riders mount up. He tosses one last sack to a nearby weyrling and looks around again.

North Bowl> Kassima leads Lysseth over to her place at the point of the V, taking a last look back at the wing and nodding with satisfaction before mounting up.

North Bowl> Kassima climbs up to Lysseth's lower neckridges with the aid of the riding straps and her lifemate's thoughtfully offered foreleg. She gives Lysseth a fond pat on the neck once she is aboard.

North Bowl> Kassima has left.

North Bowl> Alyssa then blinks at Myklarr and smiles again, touching his arm. "There are still those jugs of water that want carrying out here....and please, if you can and want...stay until after 'Fall is over. We can always use help. I'd appreciate someone like you, who's not afraid of a dragon, to be around to assist."

North Bowl> Myklarr bites his lip, not looking at Alyssa. He nods. "I will stay," he says and then moves to go get the jugs of water.

North Bowl> Aphrael tugs at Prefeth's straps gently, checking to make sure they are secure. She stares at the blue dragon for a moment, then smiles.

North Bowl> Astride Juliath, Meli nods, though it'd be hard to see, and waits for the signal.

North Bowl> Aphrael turns to Prefeth with a smile, eyes slightly faded as she speaks silently to the blue dragon. She slaps at her lifemate's side with affection, then uses his extended foreleg to climb up onto Prefeth's neckridges.

North Bowl> Aphrael has left.

North Bowl> Astride Meroth, T'fian securely fastens Meroth's riding straps about himself.

North Bowl> Portock shivers a bit at Alyssa's comment about not being afraid of dragons.

North Bowl> Astride Meroth, T'fian leans down and pats Meroth's hide. "I'm sorry," he whispers to the pale blue and then looks up at T'lar. "Yes, sir!" he calls back in response.

North Bowl> Juliath rumbles, eyes whirling faster. She crouches down and extends her translucent wings.

North Bowl> Alyssa smiles at Davidon as she tightens her braid, making sure her long hair will not get in the way. "Davidon, there's a LOT of water to be brought out...if you still want to get them, there's plenty left."

North Bowl> Lysseth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her aloft.

North Bowl> Juliath takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her aloft.

North Bowl> Nicoth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft.

North Bowl> Prefeth takes a step back for some room, then extends his wings, color glinting off the edges as he crouches down then launches skywards.

North Bowl> Prefeth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft.

North Bowl> Meroth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft.

North Bowl> Zuseth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her aloft.

North Bowl> Above, Juliath adjusts slightly, quietly.

North Bowl> Myklarr works with a silent determination, quickly carrying out the jugs of water.

North Bowl> Davidon nods, "Ah, in the infirmery you said ma'am?"

North Bowl> Above, From atop Nicoth, T'lar turns to check the formation, trying to watch Lysseth as well.

North Bowl> Above, Meroth holds his steady formation at Prefeth's eight.

North Bowl> Davidon moves beneath the rocky overhang that protects the Infirmary entrance.

North Bowl> Davidon has left.

North Bowl> Alyssa has connected.

North Bowl> Above, Nicoth drifts slightly out of formation as T'lar doublechecks his side of the V. He resumes his place smoothly on command.

North Bowl> Myklarr finally sighs. "My brother's up there... with Trynth," he says quietly.

Sky over Valley Hold> Laerth banks sharply suddenly, flames one path, then roars loudly as another barrels on him. Not ready to handle the second so quickly, he flashes *between* briefly and it speeds through the space just occupied by the dragonpair.

North Bowl> Davidon has arrived.

North Bowl> Davidon carries the water out, giving Alyssa a questioning look, "Wher do you want these?"

North Bowl> Myklarr nods to Alyssa and moves with her, chewing nervously on his lip.

North Bowl> Alyssa looks over her shoulder at Davidon, nodding toward the makeshift infirmary near Portock. "Right there beside Journeyman Portock. Oh, Portock...this is Davidon, a new friend and helper." She smiles fleetingly at Myklarr as she grabs one end of the stretchers and waits for him to take the other end.

North Bowl> Myklarr grabs the other end and nods to Alyssa. "Ready."

Sky over Valley Hold> With little warning, a thick patch of thread is driven across the front line. An initial burst of dragonfire misses it by a hair and it descends quickly towards green Zibrith.

Sky over Valley Hold> Zibrith takes a sudden dive again as her rider calls out, "Over th... " and points to the North. Her voice is cut off as Zibrith blinks *between*, reappearing off to the west. "..ere!" Zibrith roars defiantly, her eyes flashing furiously as she plummets towards another mass of the gray menace.

North Bowl> Above, Lysseth casts a glance back at the left side of the V, and then the right, rumbling to a few to tighten up their positions. She turns back to face forward, silently waiting.

North Bowl> Alyssa lifts with a little glint of strain on her features -- she is not, after all, that strong a woman -- and moves with Myklarr to where the stretchers can remain hopefully unused.

North Bowl> Myklarr's eyes are on the stretcher as he easily lifts it. He knows the purpose of these very well, and it shows on his face.

Sky over Valley Hold> Tzornth picks up his pace, as the thickening Fall eats up the visibility across the sky. Grimly clutching his riding straps, F'hlan hangs on, then yells as the huge clump nears him and his bronze. Tzornth dives forward and down, trumpeting. Flaming. F'hlan's fire lizards shriek and follow.

North Bowl> Alyssa dusts off her hands and looks around, then proclaims with a little sigh, "We're as ready as we can be." She almost sounds disappointed, and her vivid eyes flicker worriedly toward the weyrlings.

North Bowl> Above, If one happened to be close enough, and could catch the muttering on the wind, one might think one had heard something that sounded like "...paint... not... time!" coming from the vicinity of Juliath's lifemate.

North Bowl> Myklarr nods and sits down crosslegged on the ground, looking upward at the young dragons and imagining the skies over Valley Hold.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << We will be needing firestone soon! Please prepare, you will be summoned shortly! >>

Sky over Valley Hold> As the Hold courtyard comes into view, several patches of thread assault the formation at once, the thickest one nearest brown Salith, the rest near the dragon's wingmates.

Dragon> Laerth bespoke Benden dragons with << Firestone check! I am going to need some soon. Anyone else? >>

Dragon> Zibrith bespoke Benden dragons with << We need more, Laerth! Running very low! >>

Dragon> Meroth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << We are ready, Nicoth. >>

North Bowl> Portock looks at Alyssa, "I tell you this every fall, take a seat and just calm yourself while waiting it out."

Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Salith has to pause before replying, as he detoured between, << We took some more, but several from the wing are almost out. >>

North Bowl> Myklarr stares silently into the skies.

North Bowl> Above, High atop Lysseth, Kassima raises her hand, signalling all to go *between.*

North Bowl> Alyssa takes a deep breath. "If a dragon or his rider is hurt -- and we will get injuries, most likely, do not get near the rider or dragon until told to do something. Please. It's for your own safety, all right?"

North Bowl> Above, Lysseth disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Above, Juliath disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Above, Prefeth disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Above, Nicoth disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Above, Zuseth disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Above, Meroth disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Myklarr sighs as the weyrlings disappear.

Sky over Valley Hold> Juliath emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Sky over Valley Hold> Prefeth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Sky over Valley Hold> Nicoth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Sky over Valley Hold> Zuseth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Sky over Valley Hold> Meroth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Sky over Valley Hold> Nicoth wobbles in a bit of turbulence, but quickly regains his place. His rider looks about for who needs stone.

North Bowl> Davidon nods to Alyssa, "Alright, I'll leave it to you to point me in the right direction. I just wanted to help."

Sky over Valley Hold> Zibrith bugles as her rider calls out, "Stone! We need more firestone!" Empty sacks hang from her riding straps as she wings out of harms way towards the Weyrlings a bit. Elyandra calls out again, "C'mon, I need more!"

Sky over Valley Hold> Laerth rumbles again and his rider signals for firestone, quickly!

Sky over Valley Hold> Juliath resettles even as Meli begins to loosen the first sack, getting it ready for the toss. She looks to Kassi and T'lar for signals.

Sky over Valley Hold> Meroth roars his defiance at the thread, eager to flame, but remains in formation at Prefeth's eight.

Sky over Valley Hold> Prefeth bugles loudly as he emerges, only his redly whirling eyes focused up on the sky betraying him.

Dragon> Nicoth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << WE go. >>

Sky over Valley Hold> ... while the other hits a pocket of unsettled air and is deflected unexpectedly towards green Zibrith.

North Bowl> Alyssa smiles at Davidon, though the smile is strained. "And I can't tell you how much we appreciate your help. Really." She glances down at the seated Portock with a hint of exasperation, then ruffles his hair.

North Bowl> Portock chuckles and tries to calm his ruffled hair down, "Looks like it is about time for you to cut my hair again."

North Bowl> Davidon doesn't smile, but then again, he hardly ever does. He leans aginst the wall and turns his eyes to the sky. "It's the least I can do--"

Sky over Valley Hold> Nicoth banks sharply and climbs toward Tzornth. T'lar readies a sack of firestone and throw it quickly as they pass.

Sky over Valley Hold> Prefeth wings forward without further ado, headed for the bronze wingleader as he banks sharply. On his neck Aphrael unstraps a sack at a time, tossing them over to P'tran, eyes flicking to the sky now and then.

Sky over Valley Hold> Juliath disappears into Between.

Sky over Valley Hold> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan, as the Weyrling Wing blasts into existence, looks up hurriedly to mark their location. He holds his dragon steady, waiting -- both for the next flare of Thread, and for the Weyrling with his replenishing 'stone.

Sky over Valley Hold> Juliath emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Sky over Valley Hold> From atop Laerth, P'tran catches the tossed sack deftly, at the same time his dragon lets out a loud roar!

Sky over Valley Hold> Tzornth BUGLES, seeing the Thread and Nicoth arriving at the same time. But the bigger bronze aims for the Thread, first....

Sky over Valley Hold> From her place aboard Lysseth, Kassima gestures for weyrlings to start the resupplying, pointing to the riders they are to attend to. The weyrlings of Moonrise flick in and out of *between*, dodging the Thread as they toss the stone sacks deftly to riders in need of more.

Sky over Valley Hold> Salith descends lower, quickly replaced by a couple of already supplied dragons. His rider waves to an approaching weyrling, as the brown matches speed for the tosses.

Sky over Valley Hold> Juliath reemerges back from the edge, her rider just a bit white in the face, though she works fingers stiffly at the next sack.

Sky over Valley Hold> Nicoth banks away from the flaming dragon and his rider holds off tossing the sack. He flames at a bit that gets in his way and a satisfying black dust falls instead.

Sky over Valley Hold> Zibrith dives out of the way of the larger bronzes, folding her wings until she is well away from their streams of flame. She bugles up at them worriedly, swinging herself around to face them.

Sky over Valley Hold> Nicoth moves closer to Tzornth to get the resupply to F'hlan.

North Bowl> Lal has arrived.

North Bowl> Alyssa glances at Lal with that strained smile she tends to wear during 'Falls. "Waiting for 'Fall to be over, Lal...the weyrlings just left."

North Bowl> Mehlani walks here from the south.

North Bowl> Mehlani has arrived.

North Bowl> Lal looks up. "Shards n' dragon droppings!"

North Bowl> Lal falls to teh ground, cowering a bit.

North Bowl> Portock grins at the miners comment.

Sky over Valley Hold> Astride Zibrith, Elyandra calls out again to the closest weyrling, "I need a couple more sacks!" She waves them over.

Sky over Valley Hold> Meroth folds in his wings, bugling a warning towards Skyfire's wingleader, as he nearly rolls over and heads down towards another dragon pair.

Sky over Valley Hold> Salith jerks his neck to the other side, flaming the thread irritably. Then bucgles to the closest weyrling, as his rider's expression grows severely impatient.

Sky over Valley Hold> From atop Nicoth, T'lar sees Elyandra signal and directs a closer weyrling to resupply her.

Sky over Valley Hold> Lysseth flicks *between* and reappears near Zibrith, allowing Kassi to toss over a sack to Elyandra.

Sky over Valley Hold> Zuseth leaves the formation and angling to meet with Draeth and his rider. Maarie reaches to undo a sack and get ready to toss it.

Sky over Valley Hold> Several large clumps hit the forward part of the formation all at once in an uneven line as the air becomes turbulent. blue Meroth appears closest to the assault.

North Bowl> Davidon blinks at the reaction of the woman, "are you alright?"

North Bowl> Lal says "We--well, I just got bad memories about Thread n'all...."

North Bowl> Lal shivers.

Sky over Valley Hold> Lysseth rumbles a return to Zuseth, her rider nodding quickly to Elyandra before they wink back into position in the Wing.

Sky over Valley Hold> Nicoth dives out and under the fighting, flaming wing, leading the other two dragons back to formation after delivering the needed firestone.

Sky over Valley Hold> Other patches from that sheet are deflected wildy by the turbulent air and fall near bronze Nicoth.

Sky over Valley Hold> Laerth roars a warning, which is cut short as he is forced to deal with more thread hitting his part of the formation hard. He blinks *between*, then repeats, the second time just barely avoiding a wingtip score as the thread blows past him.

North Bowl> Davidon glances around, "Should there be wine or something for the riders when they come back?"

North Bowl> Alyssa glances toward Davidan and says, finger still tapping, nods. "Salless and a few others will be getting wine...but really all we get to do forever out here is wait. And I hate it," she sighs. "Ask Portock."

North Bowl> Mehlani looks solemnly up at Alyssa and declares, "Fahloran's looking for Anra."

North Bowl> Lal says " canna see anything....."

North Bowl> Myklarr looks at Lal, his eyes coming open. He opens his mouth to snap something at her, but stops and shakes his head.

Sky over Valley Hold> Astride Zibrith, Elyandra screams over the din, "F'hlan!" Zibrith senses her rider's apprehension and immediately turns around, beating her wings to get to the large bronze. Elyandra calls out, "Tzornth, go home! We'll follow, go HOME!!!!"

Sky over Valley Hold> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan looks up groggily, for a few moments, as his dragon leaps *between* again.

North Bowl> Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears on hind legs and bugles a greeting to green Zibrith and her rider, Elyandra, welcoming them home.

North Bowl> Above, Tzornth glides down from above.

North Bowl> Myklarr looks upward, seeing the bronze reappear. He looks at Alyssa.

North Bowl> Alyssa looks up quickly, attention suddenly in the sky, and she sheds her jacket quickly. "Shells," she hisses, tossing her coat away as she examines the descending dragons.

North Bowl> Lal blinks at the sight of the dragons. "Is it over?"

North Bowl> Mehlani suddenly dives at Alyssa and tugs anxiously at the woman's arm, and points up with one tiny hand.

Sky over Valley Hold> From astride Salith, T'nnar spares a glance for F'hlan, filled with worry. But then is suddenly overwhelmed by the work at hand, as more Thread fall before his point. Flame and smoke and ashes and other fighting dragons obscure his view.

Sky over Valley Hold> The hills slowly give way to more level terrain, the farmlands to the northeast of Bayhead, on the northernmost tip of Nerat Bay. The winds being to calm, returning to their formerly steady flow. A very light, cold drizzle starts to fall from the clouds, enough to dampen everything but not enough to drown the threads. The Fall itself has started to wane, however, though it continues to fall in ragged clumps.

Sky over Valley Hold> From atop Nicoth, T'lar checks Moonrise's formation. He signals Kassima that all are ok and in place.

North Bowl> Tzornth backwings for a landing.

North Bowl> Tzornth wings down unsteadily.

North Bowl> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan lists hard to his right, scowling vaguely to himself.

North Bowl> Portock makes his way near the landing dragon, but not too close.

Sky over Valley Hold> From her place aboard Lysseth, Kassima nods to T'lar, glancing around to see if there are any riders remaining in need of more 'stone sacks.

Dragon> Lysseth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << Zuseth! Go *between*--back to the Weyr! There are Healers there! >>

North Bowl> Starratiel has arrived.

North Bowl> Lal rises from her place on the ground.

North Bowl> Mehlani's usually quiet little face crumples in clear dismay and she whimpers, darting towards her father and his dragon.

North Bowl> Astride Zibrith, Elyandra calls out, "Alyssa!" She scans the faces, seeing Portock as well, "F'hlan is hurt! I'll take care of Tzornth, get F'hlan!!!" She frantically fights her own riding straps to get them undone. As soon as they are loosened, she's off her dragon and on the ground.

North Bowl> Lal gasps! "Anythin' I cin do t'help?"

North Bowl> Elyandra swings gracefully from Zibrith's neck, using a thoughtfully extended forleg, she slides to the ground. Her eyes are distant as she speaks silently to her dragon before giving her an affectionate rub on her neck.

North Bowl> Elyandra has arrived.

North Bowl> Starratiel comes out and bows.

North Bowl> Davidon brushes his hands together as he takes a step forward, waiting for instructions of what to do.

North Bowl> Lal runs to Tzornth, offering her hands.

North Bowl> Mehlani pipes, "DADDY!" and tries to scramble up on the bronze dragon's leg.

North Bowl> Tzornth rumbles, sounding strangely taken aback and embarrassed. Near his rider's left leg there is a long and ragged score going down the bronze hide -- a score that seems to have slashed diagonally across F'hlan's thigh.

Sky over Valley Hold> A few tired riders at the edge of the formation manage to miss what would have otherwise been an easy target. The patch falls on a diagonal towards brown Salith.

Sky over Valley Hold> Juliath nearly *screams* for her clutchmate, diving and flaming the offending patch, as Meli tries to see the pair.

Sky over Valley Hold> Meroth dives downward out of formation, banking sharply backwards toward the thread that struck Zuseth.

North Bowl> Myklarr blinks, looking at F'hlan and Tzornth in shock.

Sky over Valley Hold> A little more of the dank overcast appears through the falling threads. A diffuse patch starts to fall near blue Prefeth.

North Bowl> Alyssa reaches out instinctively and snags Mehlani from behind. "No, Mehlani," she says crisply, using as Melora-like a tone as she can manage. "Stay here so we can help him. Elyandra!!"

North Bowl> Elyandra runs over to Tzornth as Zibrith moves next to the great bronze. Zibrith nuzzles the bronze head from his uninjured side in an attempt to calm the bronze. Elyandra runs around the other side and looks up at F'hlan, "Bronzerider, we're going to help you off....." She looks at Lal, "Watch his leg! We have to get him down...."

North Bowl> Mehlani's eyes well up in tears, but she obediently shrinks back.

North Bowl> Lal nods. "Yessim."

North Bowl> Elyandra looks over her shoulder, "What?! Lys?" She turns to look back up at the score on the bronze hide that runs across his rider's leg as well.

North Bowl> Portock goes over to help F'hlan off the dragon.

North Bowl> Portock quickly grabs his gear and readies for the treatment.

Sky over Valley Hold> Nicoth's head jerks around at the sound of the scream. He bugles in inquiry and distress.

Sky over Valley Hold> As she spots Lysseth moving in to assist, Meli turns Juliath back to formation, turning to glance at T'lar and T'fian momentarily, her face unreadable in the wind and rain.

Sky over Valley Hold> Atop Prefeth, Aphrael sits straight up, water almost drowing out her call as she shouts out Maarie's name, eyes wide.

North Bowl> Lal says "Come down, sir, I'll keep yeh steady...My. Dragon, cin yeh come down a bit?"

North Bowl> Halyn comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

North Bowl> Lal pats Tzornth.

Sky over Valley Hold> Laerth gives a loud roar towards the Weyrlings!

Dragon> Juliath bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << Home!! >>

Dragon> Meroth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << Prefeth! Watch before you! >>

Dragon> Lysseth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << Prefeth! There is Thread coming for you! Zuseth, I am here--you must go back to Home, to the Weyr! >>

Sky over Valley Hold> Zuseth disappears into Between.

North Bowl> Davidon frowns slightly, not knowing the faces, but wanting very much to help, he steps forward.

North Bowl> Portock waits for Lal and Ely to get F'hlan down.

North Bowl> On Tzornth's back, F'hlan, finding several supporting hands nearby, mutters something to the air. Or perhaps his bronze. Tzornth shrinks down a little, and limply, his rider slides down the dragon's left flank.

North Bowl> Starratiel holds the numbweed out to Portock...

North Bowl> Alyssa watches Lal tightlipped as she heads toward Elyandra and Tzornth. To Lal she says more sharply than intended, "Please do not touch the dragon again. He's hurt and upset." She then looks up and exclaims as Maarie and her Gelth arrive.

Dragon> Lysseth bespoke Benden Weyrlings with << I will go after her. >>