Turn's End [ All ]

[Rose of Pern]

The Gather was supposed to take place over the course of a few days, a celebration to mark the passing of another Turn. The preparations had been under way for some time now with everyone contributing when they could to help set up the stalls. Like any Gather, there were stalls upon stalls of a variety of wares. From the weaver stall to the woodcrafters; there was just about everything one could think of within the area set for the Gather.

Everything was all set and perfect, even the weather was expected to be warm. It was true, on that first day of the Gather, the sun rose into a clear blue sky and warmth radiated to start melting the snow. It was the first sign of the spring that would soon envelop the southern half of the Western Continent. At first, that is all that would be noticed. The warm morning sun. It would become clear rather quickly to those who were out and about at this early hour. Something was just a little wrong today. It wasn't the weather. It wasn't hour. It was the silence. The Gather Area was close to the exit of the Weyrhold. The idea had been to allow people to enter and exit easily enough but it always conveyed the noise of the surrounding forest into the Weyrhold. Today, there was no noise. Not even a hint of the creatures that lived within the wilds could be heard across this part of the Western Continent. Even the beasts in the southern portion of the Weyrhold were quiet. Not one of them were out enjoying the sun.

That should have been the first hint that something was wrong. But humans act as humans do and most went about on their daily lives. The Weyrlings had all graduated and some, despite having lived in Cepju all their lives, were more interested in finally getting the freedom they believed they deserved. Gemma was one such Weyrling. Today was the day she had finally made her decision. She had been given one of the Gold Rider's weyrs, so it was only easy to walk out onto the sands of the Weyrbowl and head towards the Gather area. Her gold was already awake today, quickly following the young woman out of their weyr.

It is quiet today, mine. The dragon's voice was in a mildly curious tone as the pair walked. Gemma nodded before stopping. She wrinkled her nose as she glanced down to her shoes. There was a bit of muck clinging to them and she did not like that in the least. "Hold up, Wirith, the bank is a bit muddy near the edge of the river." She was used to speaking out loud to her dragon even if she had no need of it. A wordless communication had already passed between the pair that meant the woman was going to ride the gold there instead of just walking. Besides, it was impractical to walk from one end of the Weyrbowl to the other. The Weyrhold was just too large for that.

Wirith paused, tilting her wing that certain way to help her rider climb up the riding straps. It was only a few moments later that they were both in the air. Gemma was readjusting the straps in front of her, a habit as it was unnecessary at this point in time. And then the pair betweened to reappear on the other side of the Weyrbowl. It seems we are early.

Gemma chuckled as she pat the neck of her dragon. That is because we are the gold, we must always be first. The dragon circled a few times before time seemed to hold still for the pair. Falling from the sky were tiny silver strands. Each one curling about as it danced through the air. The effect was almost beautiful, especially since no one knew what they were. They had not fallen in 450 Turns. And now they were falling. Right across the flight path of the gold. That is the wrong color for s... The voice had been curious but quickly turned to panic and pain.

A scream unlike any other rose across the Weyrbowl. The Thread falling directly on Gemma and Wirith just before the pair blinked between. The pair did not return. The thread continued to fall, landing down into the stands below. Even as the dragons in each and every weyr reacted, the thread destroyed the careful work of the Gather area and began to multiply. Luckily some of the dragonriders were on the ball, M'ker in the lead as the dragons took to the sky to do what must be done. They were unprepared for threadfall and a great many injuries were sustained.The Turn had ended and a new Pass had begun.



OOC Feel free to respond with reactions, fighting thread, assisting in the clean up, or anything at all. You can create your own thread or respond to this one.

[Deleted]

“Get the children inside!” A man shouted.
A woman wailed, “Wirith! Wirith's dead!”
“Get the weyrlings to safety!” A younger rider commanded before taking flight with his brown.
It was chaos, and of the pair of them, Aerroth was the one to understand what was happening first.
THREAD! THREAD IS FALLING! THREAD KILLED WIRITH! THREAD! The gold's projected panic was likely going through more skulls than just Talera's, and despite their bond, the woman was nearly knocked to her feet by the vehemency of the dragonet.
Get inside, Aerroth!
You get inside! THREAD! Despite her comparatively small size, the gold was actually attempting to lift off to join the flighted wings. Talera used the opportunity to haul the gold into the barracks. Slamming the door to her quarters shut, she rushed back out to the Weyrbowl, intent on aiding the creche mothers in evacuating the young.
–

When the day was over, it was clear that the Gather was in ruins. Some of the traders were injured, some were dead, and by the dead-eyed look of a few of her former peers, not even the foster mothers came out of the day's trials without loss.
When Talera finally found the solace of her room once more, she reeked of the scent of boiling numbweed, dried blood, and the hard liquors they'd had to use to clean wounds. Feeling as if she could retch at any given second, Talera slumped onto her bed and cried.
They had been completely unprepared.
How?
How could a Weyr not be ready to fight Thread?
How could they lose a gold?
Just... How?
Aerroth creeled and rested her wedge-shaped head on Talera's legs. Her whirling eyes, a splash of yellow and orange earlier in the day, had calmed to a wan, greyed purple. The woman laid a palm on the dragonet's snout, and despite the losses, managed an unhappy smile at the beast.
“What are we going to do, Aerroth? If another gold doesn't transfer in...”
We will lead, as we were born to do. The dragon sounded so certain, Talera almost envied the creature.
“And if we fail?”
Then we keep going on, until we get it right.

[Zen]

Talaria and Tanith

Talaria and Tanith were one of the first ones in the air after the message of Threadfall had been passed along. Gold Wirith was dead and Betweened, her rider with her.

You see how useless Golds are? They cannot even defend themselves from Thread!

Enough, Tanith, not now!

The two did their best in that first Threadfall that no one… almost no one, had believed would ever come. Tanith was scored multiple times as she twisted and dove through the air, searing away the Thread that had taken their queen. Perhaps if they’d been prepared, if they’d known it was coming, their first fight would have been more exciting. Instead it was horrifying and depressing as the realization that all across Pern hundreds of people were probably dead or dying because of the Weyrs’ lack of preparation.

When the fall was finally over she dealt with the worst of Tanith’s wounds and though she had a minor score herself and was quite exhausted from the fall, set to work on others’ dragons who had wounds too bad for their riders to deal with without more advanced dragonhealing knowledge. She immersed herself in her craftwork because even though it dealt directly with the terrible results of the horror that had just occurred, it also helped her forget in her focus on the task at hand.

Fala and Zemoth - Blue Trey, Green Kiko

Fala nearly had to be restrained when the news of the fall spread like wildfire. Her mother was out there, and the crew… the crew that was like extended family, like cousins and brothers and uncles… and even a few older members that were like grandparents to her. Zemoth keened and creeled and was the only thing that kept her from seriously trying to leave the Weyrling Barracks. Zemoth was so distressed by her own distress, she did her best to calm down. If she left and something happened to her, Zemoth would Between… she made herself stay, however hard it was, however reluctant she was, for Zemoth’s sake.

And when the fall had ended and the news of the deaths came, she clung to her dragon as if to life itself and sobbed herself into a fitful, nightmarish sleep. Her mother was gone, consumed by Thread… one of the crewmen had come to tell her he’d seen it himself, one of the dozen or so that had survived. So many dead…. “Zemoth… Zemoth… don’t leave me… please…,” she whimpered softly against his neck, her arms wrapped around him tightly as she slept, dreaming of her beautiful Zemoth being eaten alive by that horrible silver monster right before her eyes.

Mine… I am here, Falamine. I’ll never leave you.

If anyone were to approach her, Trey was on high alert, hissing at anyone that got within five feet if His, flaring his wings and doing everything within his power to look threatening and keep everyone away from his distraught bonded. Kiko was nestled around her neck, nuzzling her in some attempt to comfort her and creeling softly in concern.

R'zon and Cyinoth

R’zon sat restlessly beside Cyinoth within the Weyrling Barracks, watching the others and occasionally heading off to one part of the Weyr or another to help with something. Mostly he was just wishing Cyinoth was older so they could be out flying, flaming Thread. Here he was finally a rider, and yet not at the same time. It was altogether quite a frustrating situation. However, he did his best to just make sure the others saw him calm faced and confident when so many of them were in a panic over what was happening. He didn’t overtly try to talk to any of them or comfort anyone, but he’d often seen how a simple calm presence could help to de-escalate a situation.

R’zonmine… that one seems incredibly upset… should we do something?

The young man looked over to where his dragon’s attention had been drawn to the girl that had Impressed a Brown. He shook his head, “I don’t think so, Cyinoth….” He had no desire to try and comfort anyone… not because he didn’t care, but because he simply wasn’t at all sure what he could possibly say or do that would help.

Zemoth, does yours need help? Cyinoth took the initiative to ask his brother straight out since his rider wasn’t sure what to do. The Brown replied hesitantly that he didn’t think His wanted anyone else around her right then. Shifting around, Cyinoth gave a soft sigh. It seemed there was nothing that could be done for the girl at the moment.

[Kyra]

Zyika and Green Paeth

Zyika was slowly walking towards the Weyrling Barracks with the Bright Green Paeth beside her. Paeth stopped slightly and looked at the sky, Mine? Was all Paeth had to say before Zyika looked up as well. Silverish strings seemed to be coming down. "Let's continue on. We already had a long walk with you stopping at everything you thought was pretty." Zyika slightly hissed without really meaning to be super rude but she was tired.

The two continued on just barely reaching the entrance when a scream reached their ears. Zyika turned back just in time for a string to reach her left arm. Zyika stepped into the entrance where Paeth was and let out a soft yelp in pain. Fear reached the Weyrling's eyes for the first time in a long time as she looked at her bonded, "QUICKLY!" She said slightly shoving the little green down the tunnel towards the Barracks. Zyika held her arm as the two continued down trying to come across an understanding. Threadfall...

Mine we should get you some help Paeth looked back at her rider eyes swirling yellow. The little green was frightened just as much as her own rider. The pair seemed to make it into a room that both the Brown Weyrling and Bronze Weyrling were in. Leaning against the wall furthest away from them Zyika slid down. 'Don't say anything.' Zyika sent her Green as she continued to hold her arm not even daring to look at it. Paeth curled up by her rider, with her head in Zyika's feet eyes still swirling yellow.

D'rik and Brown Namoith

D'rik couldn't believe it. Finally a full dragon rider and on his first day of being one, Thread just had to fall. Taking to the skies not too long after Green Tanith and her rider, Namoith twisted and turned attacking the silver strings. The Brown wasn't very quick or could turn like the Green but he got his job done well.

As the Threadfall ended the pair landed looking at eachother still in disbelief. "Where does it hurt, dear friend. We better get you all fixed up." D'rik responded looking at his bonded. Can we just say everywhere The Brown said with his eyes swirling a bluish green. D'rik smirked slightly with a shake of his head but then sadness filled his heart as he looked around. Gemma of Gold Wirith had been one the very first to suffer, D'rik had been in her Weyrling class as well. He shook his head ignoring whatever he felt that hurt and went to patching up his Brown the best he could.

[Avon]

L'rel had been attempting to enjoy the Gather despite the overwhelming loneliness he felt being in a crowd of people, but with no one he knew in sight. The thought of staying at Fort had been unbearable, but at least he had friends there. At Cepju, he barely knew anyone beyond his Wingmates. That would change eventually, but it didn't feel like it as he walked past the stalls and celebrating groups of people by himself.

He had just paused to pretend he was thinking of buying something from a stall when a terrible scream rang out. Panic sparked from one dragon to the next, and Criseth's terrified voice boomed in his head. Wirith is gone! Thread falls![/color] Raw fear laced the Blue's voice. In what felt like an instant, L'rel was at his dragon's side, tightening the riding straps and feeding him firestone. Instinct was driving both of them--Criseth's natural compulsion to fight Thread, and L'rel's turns of training as a rider. Everything felt unreal, but he moved with precision and accuracy, and it wasn't long before they joined the other riders in the air.

They couldn't dwell on the Queen's death, or pause to be shocked that the doomsayer's predictions were true. They could only focus on fighting the Thread to the best of their untried abilities. Everything was a blur of flame and silver strands. Criseth was hit multiple times, minor burns that were eased by a quick trip between.

L'rel wasn't so lucky. A pod of thread exploded nearby, strands flying directly at the Bluerider. Excruciating pain erupted on his left shoulder and down his back. Criseth screeched, sharing his rider's agony, and L'rel just barely had the presence of mind to envision the infirmary before the blue vanished between again.

The panicked dragon landed in front of the infirmary, and L'rel collapsed to the ground, mercifully falling unconscious. The scores would heal, but that shoulder would always be a little stiff, and the skin of L'rel's back ruined by scars. But they were lucky--they were alive.

***

A'lan had been a Healer for a few turns now, and he had seen plenty of illness and injury. But nothing like this. He was exhausted both mentally and physically, and sickened by everything he had seen today. He had done everything he could to help, which turned out to be much more than he expected. With so many casualties, even the inexperienced apprentices were called far beyond their usual duties.

One of the older Healers saw how tired he was and ordered him to go back to the barracks to rest and tend to his dragon. The mention of Ralaikoth snapped him back to reality. Through the whole Fall, he had been aware of her terror and rage. He had been away from his dragon longer than a weyrling should be, and it was time to put his Healer duty aside and go back to being a rider.

The usually snippy Green had no words when she saw him. She just crooned sadly and nuzzled his hand, leaning against him comfortingly. There were scratches on the door from where she had tried to get out and reach her rider. I'm sorry, Ralaikoth, he told her, scratching her eye ridges gently. He knew this wasn't the first time he would have to balance his role as a dragonrider with that of being a Healer. Things would be different now, with Thread falling.