K'lin was very much distracted. He was staring up at the sky, his expression strangely wary and confused all at once. It was blue. He didn't know why it was blue. After all, Thread was falling today. Shouldn't it be all cloudy and black? He thought so. But that wasn't what had really distracted him.

Sure, he'd been a candidate. The whole idea had been to Impress a dragon. But - would you believe it? - Khal had never actually considered the fact that if he did Impress, he'd have to fight Thread. He'd done so in ground crew - when it was near the mine and since moving to the Weyr - but from the sky... That was different. He'd considered Flights - of course - and flying, but never actually fighting Thread. He'd never admit to being scared. No. More... concerned. He was sure he'd be completely bad at it, always miss clumps or get hit in the back of the head like a total dimglow, and then he and Lorcanth would go between and he wouldn't have told the dragon where to go, and they'd both die-

//K'linMine, if I must say your name one more time, I'll hit you so hard in the back of the head that fighting thread will no longer be an issue,// his bronze warned, his voice oddly calm and professional throughout the threat, to make it sound morbidly honest. Which it might be. The dragon had spent the whole morning calling his distracted rider to the task at hand, and he was really growing tired of it. //Besides which, your incompetence in the sky is of no material. I am the one that will be doing all the work, and what little you have to do won't be at all complicated.// K'lin glared at his dragon, but he wasn't nearly focused enough to start a fight right now. And he knew he'd loose even if he was. It was hard to win a fight against something that was bigger and smarter than you that also had large claws and teeth and could read your mind. Which wasn't really fair.

Taking a deep breath, K'lin went back to looking at the firestone he was supposed to be sorting into the appropriate sacks. Just a few more and then he'd be assigned to running sacks to riders. As a strong guy, it was naturally where he would be most useful, and he couldn't really wait. Physical exertion would hopefully take his mind off of... thinking. This thinking was really doing him no good. A bit jerkily and with the knowledge that he was most likely wrong, he put the last of his 'stones into sacks and tied them, moving over to where the sacks were being gathered ready to be taken out to riders. Gratefully he picked up a pair of sacks - some of the biggest he could find - and moved off toward a dragon that had just landed to hand them over.

Lorcanth rested back against the wall of the weyrbowl, looking up and around at the gathering dragons and keeping out of the way. He let out a deep sigh, his expression and mood calm and slightly proud. //Soon,// the young dragon whispered. K'lin sent a vague silent //What?// back before thinking of what the bronze might be thinking of. //Soon we too will take to the skies. Take our place in history. Join the Weyr as a true dragon and rider.// The young bronze sighed again, raising his head and puffing out his chest. K'lin turned a bit pale and hurried to fetch more firestone sacks. //And we shall be among the best,// the bronze continued, his voice low and quiet. K'lin paused a moment, then took a deep breath and continued his heavy lifting, feeling a great deal better about himself and the situation.

After all, it was hard to stay dismal and concerned when that bigger and smarter dragon that had large teeth and claws and could read your mind had confidence in you. Even if it was marginal.

(( Injuries. Yis. Funteims. ))

Ariya couldn't believe that Thread was actually falling. Granted she'd known what impressing a dragon meant but she guessed she hadn't been expecting to fight it so soon. Still she was going to do her part. She wouldn't leave her fellow fighters out in the cold.

\Mine we are needed. Thread comes we must join the fight.\ Gyitamimath spoke. Ariya nodded as she and the black went out to the weyrbowl to join the other weyrlings in the ground crew. Gyitamimath watched the skies from the edge of the weyrbowl as her rider sorted and bagged firestone. It was an arduous task but an important one that needed doing. After all how else would the other riders fight thread? Ariya finished sorting the stone and bagged it quickly. She handed off the full bag to the rider of a dragon that had just landed. This operation would keep up for a while she knew but she was so full of adrenaline that the time length wouldn't matter.

How are you doing Gyita? Ariya asked as she bagged some more firestone. The rainbow marked black snorted.

\I wish to be in the skies flaming along with the rest of the weyr's fine fighters but I must be patient. So...I am being impatient I suppose.\ the black replied and Ariya chuckled. She understood her lifemates urge to fight their ancient enemy. However her lifemate was fairly level-headed and understood that they couldn't join the ranks of the flyers yet. They needed to fly first then they could join in the fight.

Patience love. We will be there soon enough. she thought soothingly as she handed off the bag of firestone and went to bag more. A slight ache was beginning to spread up her arms but she was determinedly ignoring it. She would not be brought down by sore arms. Too much depended on the riders in the air getting firestone quickly. There were younger weyrlings and the residents of the weyr to look after today and it was the responsibility of the riders to make sure they stay safe. A sudden glint distracted her and she stared in awe as the queens of the weyr took to the skies. Such majesty was a breathtaking sight to behold. Weyrling and dragon shared an agreed thought that they couldn't wait to take to the skies. With a soft smile the brunette returned to sorting and bagging firestone. She would be there soon enough she knew.

Jaida watched as the riders of Libertas prepared their mounts for Threadfall. They all had their straps together, riding gear and leathers in place. She envied them. It was their first Threadfall, and yet not. Not as a real rider pair anyway. She and Purjth stood in between the grounded weyrlings and the group of Healers waiting for the injured. Jaida was not going to help the weyrlings. They had enough on their plates, and she was no longer one of them. In her hands she held a flamethrower. They'd be heading out to help the ground crews. Purjth was eager, having his firestone sacks strapped to his back. He could carry more since he didn't have to worry about flying. Jaida's eyes flickered over the riders, not really knowing what she was looking for.

Go to him. We'll be fighting for a while. He might need something to keep him going.

Jaida's head whipped around to stare at the brown. "What?" Purjth rumbled in amusement. You know what I mean. Go wish him good luck or something. She colored and said nothing. Should she? Had she any right to? She wanted to, that much was certain. He'd helped her to find a place, even if it wasn't exactly what she had wanted. She'd never experience Flight the way he could. You'd better hurry, Mine. They are about to leave soon. She breathed deeply and threaded her way through the throng of riders.

It wasn't hard to find the Platinum rider. Mysaoth was an easy dragon to spot. He was still among the mass of dragons and riders, silver and bright. Beside him was R'nianon, still and waiting next to him. Her steps were quicker the closer she came, hair sweeping past her shoulders with the breeze of her passing. He would be going soon, and she wanted to say something...anything to him before he left. As she drew up to his side, she opened her mouth but nothing came out except a small squeak. Clearing her throat in embarrassment, she tried again.

"I just wanted to wish you luck, R'nianon." Jaida glanced up at Mysaoth and smiled. "And you too. Fight well, Mysaoth." She glanced at R'nianon again, hoping that he wouldn't come to harm. In an action born of impulse, she found her arms wrapped around him in a hug. It took only a second for Jaida to realize what she had done, uninvited. Flushing crimson, she pulled back, glanced at him once with a shy smile, before whirling away and running back to Purjth.

"Shards, Purjth! Why did you put me up to that?" she muttered to him when she returned. The brown was practically shaking with mirth. His eyes whirled intense blue. You needed that. Besides, it might do him some good. Jaida glared at the wingless brown. "Honestly, Purjth. I made a fool of myself. He's probably wondering what is wrong with me right now. Let's go, we should head out with the ground crew." Purjth continued his playful teasing as they worked their way to the ground crews. They passed by R'nianon's wing and the brown called out his well wishes, making Jaida duck her head as her face flushed again. "Purjth!" she hissed.

Purjth merely tossed his head in a rare and playful mood.

F’lit winced as he watched the Thread, the silver death that fell. Would Gl’rint be up there now? Fighting to spare Libertas from the effects Thread would leave? He and Cyrilth are fine, Falito. They would not be alive now if they were not strong enough to handle it. The male turned his head, eyeing the blue that spoke to him. Though they could not fly to him, both felt the mental urge to assure that their friend was safe. The blue grunted and lowered his head, seemingly wincing in pain over something. Falito sighed and turned back to the Firestone in need of bagging. “If you are struggling out here, you should be back in the room. This isn’t a place for a dragon like you, Zatristeth.” The masked blue looked up pathetically, wondering how he could survive a Threadfall, not even out there fighting it himself.

He sensed it all, the pain, the fears, all of it echoing within his mind. Damn this ability. The blue shook his head and stood, though with much effort since his mind was highly clouded by the emotions of others. He needed to work, he needed to do his part. Zatristeth stood beside Falito but he was so overwhelmed, he ended up leaning into the male. I am sorry that I am weak. These emotions…

“Don’t fecking apologize,” Falito snapped. Thinking his rider was mad with him, the blue glared somewhat, wishing His could understand control of his temper. But the words that followed touched him deep. “You’re young, you don’t have to fight it yet, not these emotions, okay? Just lean on me, I’ll help you through this.” He shifted his shoulder, putting most of the weight now on a comfortable position so he could continue to work. Zatristeth was shocked by this, but admiration swelled up within him. His rider did care. Still, he would not lay around and do nothing! When a bag was tied, the whippy blue snagged it in his teeth, nodding to his rider with determination before dragging it over to one of the older weyrlings, leaving the bag for any of them to take. I will fight this Thread in my own way, I shall not be stopped, not even by this blessed curse, he announced proudly to Falito. And it was true. Zatristeth would let nothing stop him.

---

E’ros sighed, jealously eyeing the others. When could he graduate and be part of them? His lessons were close enough, weren’t they? Morth was large enough, they were ready! They could! Oh, how they could. Patience, E’rosMine. Without it, Do’van and Regalith may dare hold you back.

’That damn plat-rider is too busy screwing chicks to bother-‘

E’ros.

Grumbling, the weyrling unwillingly continued to help some of the younger weyrlings bag ‘stone. They had to work quick now because later the rides would be taking them I great batches and they’d be running too fast then. Morth didn’t seem to mind much as he shifted, the leathers running over his body. Red and blue and white, each contrasting to his silver-black body, as he waited for E’ros. They at least weren’t going to be useless this Threadfall. They could run some of this ‘stone to the riders above rather than standing around and doing nothing but bugging it. Morth knew E’ros wanted to fight the dangerous foe. It was perhaps one of the great things about his rider. He did not doubt himself and he was always eager to do what was right (though for the wrong reasons.)

Do not worry, E’ros. You shall one day be up there, flying with them. I shall flame that Thread and we shall be victorious. But for now, we earn our way how we can. Now rush yourself, we are not fast enough. Riders need Firestone. He felt reassured, though none the more patient, to have Morth behind him on this. After spending over a year with the black, he had come to find the meaning in words of nothing. When he spoke with that eerie tone, one that hid true emotion behind it, E’ros could find what was truly meant when others couldn’t. It was a great talent. And from what he was told, they would soon be in the air. Until then, prove yourself with what you can do.

This was why he liked Morth.

“Come on, guys,” he called. “Let’s go! Let’s go!”

---

M’ravi hummed casually, wandering around lazily while the others worked. They were stressing over nothing, seriously. Those riders had it, didn’t they? They are doing a fine job, aren’t they? Hm. Do you think we should go in and help? Guryonth turned his head to M’ravi, twisting his tail somewhat when the question was posed. M’ravi raised a brow and shrugged, looking at the other weyrlings and candidates that were racing to fill bags as hurriedly as possible so they would have them ready for the riders. “They seem to be fine to me.”

Indeed. Plus, we should be fighting the Thread itself, not wasting our time on this. It’s not like it’s an important job. Smugly, the brown tilted his head higher, walking around a few of the others that worked so hard to keep the stone moving. He was a happy dragon to feel so powerful, letting the others do the work he did not wish. It was better for him anyways, not to stress the great Guryonth out like that. It’d mentally throw him and then what good would he be to any damsels if he was too worn from this to bother helping them?

A hand grasped M’ravi’s arm tightly, too tightly, and the boy yelped when he was tugged away by a younger male. ‘Why aren’t you working?” the blonde male asked, snarling nearly with every word. I have heard of you, Brown Guryonth. You are truly lazy if you cannot meagerly bag ‘stone for the Riders that dare their lives to spare your pathetic one.

I’m heard of? Splendid!

M’ravi was thrown to a small group of others, the higher-up weyrling snorting as he and the black dragon walked off. “You should learn your place, rider. If you are supposed to bag firestone, you bag firestone.” M’ravi rubbed his arm and watched the weyrling walk off.

“Man, what stick was shoved up E’ros’ ass?” he asked Guryonth quietly.

Hopefully, a wide, painful one. The brown snorted and sat, grudgingly allowing himself to help the others. Hopefully it wouldn’t mark up his poor hide!



((INJURIES much loved! Nothing to kill them... yet))

[[Okay so I'm posting all my characters together in one post 8D

ALL CAN BE MAIMED, JUST NO DEATH <3]]



I hate this. R'dan huffed, as he shifted back and forth in his riding straps. He glared at those around them, shard them all...he should have been up there with the rest of the wings flaming thread! But instead they were only supposed to carry bags of stone out of to the riders and come back. Soon they would be graduating, but still they were stuck on the ground because it was 'too dangerous' for 'inexperienced weyrlings.' Feck them, this wasn't what he wanted. Rheth was purposely ignoring his dark thoughts since they would do no good to them.

R'dan watched with a sigh as the wings assembled and left to go fight thread. R'tin was up there somewhere among the wings, his annoying weyrlingmaster was probably up there too. R'dan allowed himself to muse over the thought of the blackrider getting hurt. Rheth huffed a little, not happy with that kind of thought but the male ignored her anyways. Rheth's opinion didn't matter right now. So instead he went back to watching the sky and waiting for the sharding call that would take them out into the action.



Undineth glared at her clutchmates and those in her wing. They were the closest of the weyrling groups to graduation but they had also been only allowed to bring stone to the riders. She didn't mind that all that much really, the green never wanted to see her rider get hurt by the silver menace known as Thread. She just really hated being around so many annoying beasts that were loud and believed themselves to be something that they truly weren't. She allowed a huff as her rider was strapping the bags of firestone onto her.

Tevita kept fumbling and dropping the bags, she finally let out an irritated curse. Undineth swung her head around to look at her rider, disapproving of the rather unladylike thing her rider had shouted. Stop your worrying and cursing, Tevita. We are safe on the ground. But the green already knew that was not the reason for her rider's distress. The green narrowed her eyes up at the deceptively clear sky and bared her teeth at it. Your mother will be fine, she is an experienced flier. Now climb up and push those doubts away. Undineth waited as her rider finished strapping on the last bag and obediently climbed up onto the green's back. Neither of them were happy, but they both took comfort from each other's presence.



You don't have to go. Selliseth said, pressing her side against the door to block the only exit from the room. The worry the beast felt for her rider was evident in her whirling eyes and the tone she spoke in. Anaray frowned at the blue, she knew that Selliseth was protective of her rider. The fact that Anaray was going out to be apart of the ground crew upset the beast since she could not go with and properly make sure that her rider came out of it safe.

"I'll be fine Selliseth, please don't worry so much." But the blue didn't want to leave her dragon undefended. Both were at a loss, they both wanted to protect one another and both refused to allow their partner out into the chaos. Anaray sighed, trying to figure out how to get Selliseth to move away from the door. "Selliseth...you're not used to walking." It was true, Selliseth often stumbled because of her longer limbs. "It's dangerous out there." The blue bared her teeth at her rider in frustration.

I will not allow you to go out there where you will foolishly place yourself in harm's way! Anaray sighed and approached the blue cautiously. Maru, her canine, had gone into hiding since the alpha was angry. Anaray stroked her dragon's head who huffed in response and glared up at her rider with determination. "I'll be surrounded by your clutchmate's riders...I'll be safe by them...what if Amaeda is out there and something happens to her? They're are friends Selliseth, and I can't just hide away because you want to keep me safe." Selliseth let out a low sound of unhappiness but moved out of the way. Her head was ducked and it was obvious that the blue was submitting even though she didn't want to at all.

Please...just be safe. Anaray smiled and bent over to hug her blue before leaving the room. "I'll come back to you, safe and sound." She smiled and closed the door behind her. Hurrying to join everyone else for when the dragons needed more stone. The fighting might have already started already but she would do what she could on the ground.



You will be returning. A soft whisper ran across M'kil's mind. Thueytmoluth was lounging on the male's cot even though his stone couch wasn't too far away. The blue-black tilted his head to one side to regard his rider who looked completely miserable with the fact of how much work he would be doing. The male looked at his dragon and pouted a bit before shaking his head. Thueytmoluth wasn't going to be out there with him even though he wished dearly that the beast could be out there. He had become quite fond of the tidy and rather impressive chimeric.

I must stay behind and look after my sister, surely she will be unhappy if her rider is out there. This made M'kil scowl, his first impression of the blue-black's sister's rider was not good. He didn't like the female and the feelings seemed to be mutual on it all. Finally the male could stall no longer so with one more glance back at his chimeric, he sighed. "Wish me luck." He muttered before heading out to join the rest in the chaos that would be preparing for those weyrling dragons to take stone up to the riders and for dealing with the wounded.



Jenss stood within the chaos that was the weyrbowl. He watched the various wings all take off and head off to Azure Hold to protect it from thread. The male glared up at the perfectly clear and blue sky, he hated threadfall and all the pain and death it brought. He gave a shake of his head and began to tie on sacks of stone to one of the weyrling's dragons, helping the rider secure and make sure that there was enough sacks. He had been going since the moment he had come out here. It seemed that once the riders began to attack thread, there would be a lot more chaos and confusion as riders came back injured and others well...didn't come back at all.

Jenss had locked Miss Blues Eyes in his room much to the canine's annoyance. He had heard her howling all the way until he had left the candidate barracks completely. He glanced around for his brothers, but saw neither of them. He gave another shake of his head, it was best he didn't try to think too much about those two or else he would become distracted. The male didn't need anyone anyways, so why had he become so distracted lately by those two?



Netahenie stood off to the side and watched as her brother and his black took off with their wing. The girl sighed and gave a shake of her head. She had been assigned to helping the healers and running supplies to those who called for it. She was considered too young to do threadfall or handle a flamethrower for when it fell down upon the weyr but she refused to simply stay in her room when she could be helping someone.

The thin girl chewed on her lip and glanced around. She hoped with all her mind and body that her brother made it through this threadfall unharmed. She didn't know a lot of riders, but she hoped that they too would come out of this unharmed. She sighed and ran off to go fetch more numbweed for the healers who were stationed in the weyrbowl rather then the infirmary. She had been told that sometimes riders would appear in the weyr, on the sands, by the beach...anywhere but not always the infirmary. It was kind of scary to think that someone could lie bleeding and dying with no one to help.



Just need to make it through, thats all...it won't be long. The male ground his teeth together. They had been warned before hand of the threadfall so he hadn't gotten drunk even though he had wanted to. They had given him a flamethrower for when it fell over the weyr but for now he was running around delivering various things to those who needed it. He had watched the wings leave with varying feelings of dismay and hope that there wouldn't be too many casualties. At least he was still new to the weyr. There was some relief in not knowing anyone other then a certain candidate who he had passed by while he had been getting some supplies for a weyrling pair. He had brushed against they as they passed each other, giving the other a look that he hope was comforting. He knew for a fact that Zakaerus had relatives here who were riders, he felt bad for the male but there was nothing he could do about it.



Italia looked at the green who's side rose and fell in a steady rhythm. She had spent most of the night sleeping, telling Italsk that she wasn't feeling good even though it was a lie. She felt bad for lying to her green, but she didn't want upset Italsk by saying she was going out to battle thread that could possibly hurt or kill her. She shuddered at this thought and considered at least giving her wher one last rub before she left but if she stalled any longer then she would loose her nerve in going out into the light and chaos.

When she arrived outside, she stood for a moment allowing her eyes to adjust to the light. She glanced around for a familiar face but didn't see anyone she really knew. It might also be because she was so used to seeing handlers rather then riders, but she didn't know and decided it was best if she didn't think too much about it. She went up to someone and asked what they needed help with, they gave her specific directions on what they needed and she set off on the task.

[[Long post :'D I'm sorry]]

HOHMYGOSHTHEREISTHREADOUTTHEREANDWE'REALLGONNADIE-

Calm yourself U'no. We were born for this. For what is a dragon without Thread?

U'no stopped his flailing, to turn and look at his dragon. The Platinum was tall now, regal and bulky. The dark beast was starting to lose his baby fat and put on muscle from the short gliding exercises. His bright eyes made an admiring circuit of Vipulath's form once more and the boy began to lose himself in memories of the hide glinting in the sun. A sharp crack sounded and the tips of the dragon's tail smacked Ula's shins. he yelped jumping aside. Vipulath coughed his laughter and slipped past his human into the hall.

Come, we cannot be late. We have to get those bags out to the Riders.

"R-right."

U'no answered, trailing after his dragon. His hands fiddled anxiously with a loose thread in his coat. Lorcanth and his Rider were already there, as well as a few others. They were so brave...He had to be brave too! Everything would be alright! The Riders would flame bravely and he would run 'stone to the older Weyrling should they run out. It was a flawless system, genius even! A large, dark head butted his chest and U'no snapped out of his inner monologue, grabbing a few sacks and strapping one onto Vipulath's back. U'no ran out, tongue sticking out of his mouth in determination as Vipulath trotted,large feet flashing high above the ground. They were assigned to a few Riders in the Blazing Stars wing, so by the end of their run, they were helping a rather small Green. She wasn't the most attractive in color, but her straps were pretty. U'no's hands fumbled with the straps an the bags and the pretty Rider aboard the Green sighed, bending over to help him. U'no never saw the man looking at him, but he had the feeling someone was watching him rather unblinkingly the entire time.

I believe that Green is admiring my form.

Vipulath said slyly, swinging his hips and swishing his long, impressive tail. U'no chuckled and flushed, swatting the thick neck.

"Come on you tease, let's go get some more stone!"

---

This does not feel right K'lorm.

Xennkaeth whispered, his mental presence clinging to K'lorm's. The old man closed his eyes briefly and sent a wave of reassurance to his dragon. The Blue was better now, his wounds now peeling scabs. The Healers were cautious, and suggested that the Blue sit out Threadfall. Running around might reopen some of the deeper wounds the mad Red had inflicted, and K'lorm would not risk Xennkaeth for the world.

I know, and I'm sorry. You heard the Healers. Lay down and try to sleep.

With that, K'lorm broke contact, only keeping a tendril of his conscious focusing on Xennkaeth while the rest of him helped bag coal. It was already sorted and bagged yesterday, now all he needed to do was run the bags out to Riders. He may be old and wrinkly, but that did not mean his strength was gone! Candidates and wyerlings alike parted in awe as the broad shouldered bald man hefted multiple sacks upon his shoulders and trotted out.

He saw many strange dragons out there. A brown without wings (he had seen this one hatch of course), a rather pale white with black spots-Really, he could go on. Unconsciously, he patted the big speckled shoulder under his palm as he finished hefting bags to the pale dragon's equally dark rider. K'lorm winced, hoping the beast wasn't offended, but it merely quivered, eyes up and far seeing. This one was a warrior through and through. It would not be distracted.

An impatient Red weyrling lands, snapping his fingers and demanding more firestone. He gestures to K'lin. When the job is done, the Red dragon does not wait for the Weyrling pair to be clear and takes off. Dirt and sand are flung into Lorcanth's eyes and the down sweep of the Red's wings clip K'lin's head, leaving a nasty laceration. The Red pair never looks back or checks on them as they wing away

A Fledged Weyrling witnesses some nasty Thread wounds as they hand off firestone. The girl becomes sick and vomits over the side of her Green's neck. Ariya and Gyitamimath are caught underneath unfortunately.

A newer resident of the weyr does not know how to deal with his flamethrower. The nozzle is clogged and he shakes it near Jaida and Purjth. The clog is released and the agenothree spits out, splashing Purjth's leg and Jaida's arm. The wound is not enough to put them out of commission, but it is quite painful.

A Black up above attempts to twist out of the way of a strand he could not flame. The stray strands hits and scores the dragon's bag of stone before he can disappear between. Firestone falls from the bag erratically, raining down on the unsuspecting ground crew below. A large chunk of stone hit Zatristeth on the neck, thudding painfully against his neck spines. Smaller pieces pelt E'ros and Morth, but the rocks hardly leave bruises on the pair. A sizable piece of stone, most likely meant for a Bronze than a Black, hurtles through the air and strikes M'ravi's shoulder. It hits a nerve and makes his entire left arm go numb for a short amount of time.

A Blue lands to rest during fall. One of his straps is charred and snaps, sending his rider tumbling to the ground. The man's shoulder is dislocated and he needs help getting up and to the infirmary. Also, he needs someone to pop his shoulder back in its socket...

There is a scream as a man gets hit full in the chest by a clump of Thread. The man dies before his dragon can between. Distraught, the dragon suicides. The entire body does not make it however, because the Thread ate through the man's shoulder, severing his arm. The limb falls down to the weyrlings below, hitting R'dan in the head and concussing him.

Three people are needed to help the Healers slather numbweed on an enormous Bronze dragon, his entire right side is blistered by friendly fire.

Get your flame throwers ready! A tangle of thread has somehow escaped all the wings and landed in the paddocks! Quick! Three people are needed to contain the burrows and save the cattle!

Ariya was busy bagging firestone. A repetitive motion to be sure but an important one and the girl was completely focused on her task. They didn't notice the red weyrling hit K'lin or the green weyrling near them. At least Ariya didn't notice the green weyrling but Gyitamimath did. The black also noticed the rider turn green around the gills. She blinked and started to warn her rider when the girl vomited and it landed all over Ariya's back.

"GAH!" Ariya yelped more startled than anything. She felt the sticky wetness and smelled something that wasn't to pleasant.

Gyitamimath...did...what just happened? she thought her eyes wide as she kept bagging firestone.

\Ummm...You just got thrown up on...\ Gyitamimath replied and Ariya shuddered.

Just perfect...can you get me a shirt from the room? she thought and Gyita rumbled a soft agreement. The small rainbow black slipped around the edge of the weyrbowl keeping out of the way of the other workers. She finally reached the weyrling barracks and slipped inside. Luckily Ariya had left the door to their room open. The rainbow black went in and grabbed the shirt that was lying on the end of the bed left haphazardly when the pair had gone out earlier. Snagging the shirt she hurried back out to her rider. The girl smiled gratefully.

"Thanks." she said softly. The dragon rumbled softly before going back to her post as her rider slipped into a tunnel that led into the weyr's interior. She slipped off the soiled shirt and put on the other one. She paused as she heard a scream as Gyitamimath keened. Ariya knew they'd lost at least on person to Thread and her heart went out to those that knew the pair. She swallowed thickly as she came back out hurrying to grab the sack of firestone she'd managed to bag before getting thrown up on. Shards she had the worst luck didn't she? She shook her head as she handed it off to another rider who'd landed and went to bag some more firestone.

\Mine! Thread has landed in the paddocks! We need to get it now!\ Gyita's voice startled Ariya who's head snapped around to glance at the paddocks in time to see that what the dragoness had said was true. Her eyes widened as she grabbed a flamethrower. Spotting a tall boy with pale blonde hair she tugged at his sleeve shoving the flamethrower at him.

"There's thread in the paddock! Go! I'm right behind you!" she snapped as she moved to grab another flamethrower and hurry to the paddocks.


\Hurry!\

[ D8 ewwww! Throw-up! ]

I don't want you to go.

The greenweyrling sighed, watching her young bonded pace back and forth in front of the door, her delicate wings seeming to tremble as she continued to worry about her rider’s wellbeing. From the little the green had heard about the ground during a ‘Fall, her rider would be in serious danger out there. Finally she sat directly in Amaeda’s path, her faceted eyes swirling with anxious yellow as she stared at the weyrling intently. Every fiber of her mental presence clung to her rider’s, clinging to her other half in whatever way possible. The green wanted with all of her entirety for either her rider to stay safe and sound in the room with her, or to take her along to help with the ground crew. For the past candlemark Amaeda had been refusing to do either.

”I know you don’t,” she said, securing the last few strands of hair away from her face. Having her stubborn shorter pieces fall into her eyes during a Threadfall would be nothing but disastrous, but really the greenweyrling was struggling to find something to do with her hands as her dragon pitifully begged her stay behind. ”I have to pay the weyr back for giving me something as amazing as you, don’t I? I’m helping to protect you and me.” A soft smile that not only reached her mouth but her eyes as well assured the green that nothing would happen to her rider. ”You have to move, Ayurth. I have to go. She approached the green, bending down to rub her shoulder gently. She felt the dragonet’s iron grip on her mind loosen and return to the normal connection they shared. She was admitting defeat.

Hurry back.

The green’s words stuck in her mind for a long while after the weyrling as out of the door and headed toward the ‘Bowl. Thread just so happened to be falling extremely close to home today, and Amaeda felt more than obligated to help. She took a deep breath once she arrived amongst the other grounded fighters, ready to either wield a flamethrower or fly firestone up to the wings above. Making sure her own protective gear was in check and her thrower was working, the usually peaceful greenweyrling prepared for a battle that would give her insight in her and Ayurth’s future.



---




[list]Elowen was staring up at the sky; she was watching as dragons came into formation and flew overhead, ready to battle Pern’s most deadly and ancient enemy. She was dressed warmly, leaving no skin uncovered besides her face. If any thread hit her – she shuddered at the thought – it would have to eat through tough leather and her regular clothes to reach any flesh… but seeing as it ate through bone or anything else it touched leather wouldn’t put up much of a fight. Elowen bonked herself on the side of the head, trying to knock those thoughts away from her hand with slightly shaky fists. Of course she imagined herself as a brave fighter within the protective wall of the weyr, letting her imagination run wild. Out here, with no protection from the elements or even those around her, she wasn’t daydreaming. She wasn’t doing anything other than worrying.

The dragon candidate had wrapped Dapple, her eight sevenday old puppy up in a blanket and left with minimal tears. It was her first time out for a threadfall, and she only had the older candidate and rider’s stories to go on. None of them were very pleasant. But still the girl went, determined to serve the weyr that housed her as dutifully as she possibly could. After all, if all the new candidates when around sniveling and hiding in their rooms when they have got to do a dangerous job, no one would be out there to protect Libertas. What was that saying she’d heard a few times before? When the going gets tough, the tough get going? Well, Elowen was tough, and she was about to get going out to the Weyrbowl to do her part. What kind of dragon would she attract if she didn’t do her part?

So there Elowen stood, clutching the flamethrower she had been taught to use, dodging scrambling candidates and weyrlings as they rushed to either get firestone to the riders or ensure the injured were cared for. Elowen was shoved to the ground as a large man was rushed away screaming, burns all over him. Hot tears stung her eyes as she struggled to get up, only to be pushed down again and again by those swarming past her. She cried out as someone stepped on her hand, twisting her fingers painfully as she yanked them away. Right about now, she was wishing she had stayed home with Dapple.

[[ I'm up for anything besides extreme disfigurement, blinding, and loss of limb. ]]

[[ Short R'nianon cameo in response to Jaida, since he's on the ground when it happens, and that would look weird up in the sky... K'lin post below. ]]

Nothing out of the ordinary was happening, and no one was coming over to talk to him, so R'nianon had turned to Mysaoth's straps. The platinum kneeled on his elbows so that his rider could reach them, looking them over for any trouble spots and anything they might be able to fix before leaving. There probably weren't either, but he looked anyway just to pass the time. He didn't really expect anyone to come and talk to him, as this was merely a routine by now. Get in place, get your stone, check your straps, wait to go. He didn't expect anything to be out of place, and he would have been surprised if there was anything, but just in case, he was accessible.

//R'nianon,// Mysaoth's deep, rough voice warned, an odd note to it that his rider didn't notice at first. He stepped back, knowing that Mysaoth was letting him know that someone was coming, and turned to see who it was. It was about then that he realized there was something a bit strange in how Mysaoth had alerted him, mostly because he had seen why. Jaida was walking swiftly toward him, her hair sweeping back with how fast she was going. He blinked in surprise, for a few moments nervous about what she had to say and why she was coming to him, before he reminded himself that this was just business, nothing to be scared of. He even managed a bit of a smile as she drew to a stop in front of him.

She squeaked at him, and he couldn't help but look surprised for a moment, his diplomacy slipping a bit before he could catch it. Why had she squeaked? Firmly he pushed the question out of his mind, bringing the faint smile back to his face. "Thank you," he answered calmly, Mysaoth adding a low hum and nod, his eyes a whirling green. "And good luck to you as well. And to Purjth." He glanced up to where ground crew is forming, catching a glimpse of the dark brown among them, before he was very pointedly distracted.

Jaida had hugged him, and he looked down, shocked to find that she had done so. Before he could do anything more she had pulled back, glancing up at him shyly. He wished he could have had a different expression, but as it was he just looked terribly surprised, standing still as she had left him, and as soon as she had hurried off he realized how he must have looked. Turning, he saw Mysaoth looking down at him, his eyes still that whirling green. "What?" he demanded, a bit short as he floundered in the wake of being hugged in public. Mysaoth said nothing, simply raising his head to look forward, his expression impassive but that sharding green still in his eyes. R'nianon tugged his uniform back into place, looking around furtively before climbing back up to his place on the platinum's shoulders, avoiding catching anyone's eye.

Vainly he tried not to think of what happened as he waited ever more impatiently for Th'kar to call them up, only to fail miserably as Purjth walked by and wished them luck. Mysaoth returned the sentiments cheerily, and R'nianon looked toward the pair for a moment before ducking his head and checking his straps.

With things picking up, K'lin had dragged Lorcanth into helping, putting him to passing the firestone bags to him and carrying some extras if they had to move farther. The bronze didn't like it at all, and he threatened at every turn to walk away, but it was busy enough that he stuck around, doing his duty even if he didn't enjoy it.

And then came that sharding red weyrling. The dragon landed nearby, not seeming very careful about himself. And then the brute's rider had the impertinence to snap for them. Snap! Like they were some canines at their beck and call! Both K'lin and his bronze's eyes darkened, but the younger weyrling grabbed the sacks anyway and hefted them toward the irksome red. Ignoring the slight as best he could, K'lin secured them to the red's harness, also trying to ignore the way Lorcanth was glaring venomously at the pair of them, kneading the ground with his claws. Finally, after what seemed a far longer time than it probably was, K'lin backed away from the red, heading back for more 'stone and the next weyrling.

But things, as we know, didn't quite go that way. Far too soon, the red raised his wings, and K'lin looked up, realizing a bit vaguely that something was wrong. Then with a snap and a great whoosh, down came the wings, and a cloud of dust was thrown up at Lorcanth's face as the erring dragon made a retreat. The bronze roared, pouncing forward and baring his fangs after the red, his wings flared and his eyes a violent red. //He will regret that,// the bronze promised darkly, dropping his head to rub at his eyes. It was about then he noticed an uncharacteristic silence. He turned to find K'lin sitting on the ground, looking with fascination at the startling amount of red dripping on to his hand from his face.

//Healers!// Lorcanth threw his voice out to those nearby, turning and moving close to his downed rider, lowering his head to look more closely at him and blinking in irritation at the sand still in his eyes. Dully, K'lin looked up at him, swaying a bit where he sat. "What happened?" he asked, blinking a bit as some blood dripped toward his eye. A rather deep cut ran from near the top of his head toward his left eyebrow, just barely missing his temple, and leaving a very red gash that was very profusely bleeding. Rivulets ran down his nose and around his cheeks, now making a quick track down his chin and the left side of his head. //I'll see that weyrling flogged for this,// Lorcanth promised, his matter-of-fact voice a bit unsettling in this instance.

A bit of help would be necessary, please...

Purjth was busy scanning the skies, looking for any stray clumps of Thread that might make it to the ground, which was likely seeing how thick it was falling. Jaida was sweeping the ground with her eyes as they moved in case the glimmering silver enemy had already made a burrow. With flamethrower in hand, she kept a mental argument, trying to dissect just why she had hugged R'nianon, and in public no less. She usually wasn't an outwardly emotional person, yet she had wanted to hug him. Shaking her head she glanced at Purjth, who had stopped looking upward to start on more of his teasing.

"Don't even start, Purjth. I've heard enough from you. We've got enough on our plates right now and I don't need you adding to it. I'm distracted enough as it is." The brown bit back his comment but his amusement was still palpable, at least to Jaida anyway. With a sigh, she checked her fuel capacity and was pleased that she wasn't even half empty. She had plenty left to flame any thread and Purjth still had his loads of firestone in case she ran out. His flame, as R'nianon had suggested, would be more powerful than her little flamethrower. It could probably wipe out the deeper burrows.

The line she walked slowly was moving forward again and she hurried to catch up. The man next to her was frowning down at this own flamethrower, shaking it about. Jaida rolled her eyes. Really, some people just shouldn't be handling flamable contents if they were going to be shaking it around everywhere. "Hey, you need to be careful with that. You might-" A whoosh sounded loudly in her ears and suddenly there was a flash of fire as agenothree spurted everywhere. Jaida screamed more out of instinct than surprise. Her shout was echoed by a bellow of pain from Purjth. It was then that she realized that she was hit.

Looking down at her left arm, she saw that the fabric had been burned away and the skin was glaringly red and hot to the touch. Her breath hissed in and out as the signals for pain finally reached her brain through the shock. Shards! she thought. Owwwwwww....was the rest of her thoughts as she bit her lip to keep from crying. It hurt so much! She bounced on the balls of her feet to try and keep from thinking about it, or biting off the head of the dimglow who had caused the burn. "Of all the stupid things to do," she muttered to herself. A few tiny blisters even started to show. Purjth whined and she looked up, even more shocked that to find that he had been hit on the leg, and surprised that he hadn't said anything.

"Purjth! Are you ok?" The brown nodded, but his breathing was as ragged as her own. I am fine. It's not too bad really, just very painful. Jaida knew how exactly how he was feeling. She glared at the man who had caused this mess and he had the nerve to shrug and keep going without even saying he was sorry. "The nerve of that man," she muttered. "Let's see if we can find a Healer, Purjth." The brown agreed quietly, keeping his leg off the ground so as not to get it dirty.

I don't like thiss, the blue announced to his rider as they prepared to shuttle another bag of firestone to the Wings high above and beyond the Weyr. We sshould be up there with them, not sstuck on the ground like winglesss wherriess. Was Aniwetath always this irritable? Not always, but when the blue felt himself capable of a task, he was gung-ho for accomplishing that, not sitting on the sidelines as he was forced to do for now.

"I know you don't like it, Ani," Nalia retorted, sighing heavily as she finished tying off the firestone sacks to the blue's harness before swinging into the natural 'saddle' herself. "However, it's all we can do for now. Once we graduate, we'll have the luxury of going out there with the Wings ourselves." Personally, for the moment, Nalia was glad that they weren't up there with the older pairs, because she didn't feel herself confident enough in the task necessary of them. It was better to go into something as life-threatening as Threadfall entirely certain of oneself, after all, and she didn't wish to risk her beloved dragon just yet. "Besides that, be grateful that we're actually allowed to go up there now, even if it's just supplying the Wings with firestone when they call for it."

Doessn't mean I have to approve of it. It iss a wasste of my abilitiess. We are ready to fight, I'm certain of it. Knowing any further arguing would be just as much of a waste, however, Aniwetath quickly abandoned the discussion. Now wasn't the time for such frivolity, and they were needed in the skies. With that, they were off, hopping between and reappearing in the exact spot they had left mere moments beforehand. Inwardly smirking at his growing aptitude at the art of reappearing in the same spot that he had disappeared from, he almost missed the sudden activity in the Weyrbowl. Nalia! Thread hass landed in the paddockss! Flamethrowerss are needed, sso I ssuggesst you get down there quickly, the blue informed as he landed, crouching quickly to allow his rider an easier time dismounting.

Once she had slid off of Aniwetath's shoulder, the young woman made quick work of grabbing the nearest available flamethrower, checking to ensure that the nozzle was clear of any blockage before rushing towards the paddocks. She was grateful that she had already sent Aernan back to stay with her parents for the time being, and that she was only going to send for him to return when the Weyr needed fine runner stock. But that was neither here nor there, and as she made it to the paddocks, she glanced around for the burrows, spotting one fairly easily and hopping the fence in order to get closer to it. She weaved through the herdbeasts, reaching the burrow and sticking the nozzle into the hole created there before letting the agenothree loose to perform its duty, only pulling away when she was sure that the Thread in the burrow had to be dead. Glancing around her, she spotted another burrow, this one closer to another weyrling, one that hadn't flown just yet. "Ariya!" she called, remembering the young woman's name at the last second. "There's one just in front of you!"

---

She had fought Thread before, back when she had first arrived at the Weyr, but for some reason, this time felt vastly different from the others. Perhaps it was because she wasn't alone this time? As she continued about filling sacks of firestone, further preparation for when the Wings needed more of the acrid-smelling stuff, hazel eyes glanced towards the green patiently seated beside her. Kthoniath was everything she could have ever hoped for in a dragon, and even beyond that, but she was glad that they would be stuck within the confines of the Weyr during 'Fall for some time still. The growing bone firelizard on her shoulder stood at attention, one pale paw gripping her earlobe for better support as she watched the skies vigilantly. "Anything yet, Seika?" she asked, sighing in relief as the flitt shook her head slightly before returning to her task. Thread hadn't reached the Weyr yet, that was a relief.

You act as if Thread is this horrible thing that we shouldn't even go near, my Razia, Kthoniath mused, a hint of a giggle in her voice as her tail swished this way and that behind her. She would likely cause someone to trip, but she really didn't care at the moment; she felt happy enough to do it, and besides that, they wouldn't be mad at her for long. No one could be mad at Kthoniath for very long, after all. We have to go up there one day, my dear. And don't you worry; we'll make Thread turn and run!

Chuckling a bit, Razia handed the latest filled bag of stone to the next person in the line, turning back to her dragon afterward and patting the gentle sea-green hide lovingly. "You, my love, are simply too much at times," she commented before Kthoniath deposited another bag in front of the young woman. "Oh, thank you, Kthoniath," she added with a smile as she went back to work, sorting various sizes of the nondescript stone and depositing them into the bags that surrounded her. It was a boring job when compared to being in the ground crew, and both had to be boring compared to actually being up there in the thick of it, but at the moment there was no other place that she wanted to be. She trusted the Wingleaders in the air to allow the Wings to flame the dread stuff before it even reached the ground, and the ground crews available would tackle any of it that happened to reach the ground. For now, all she had to worry about was filling sacks and making sure Kthoniath and Seika were alright.

Peace was broken, however, by the sudden sounds of a flamethrower going off, and Razia quickly swiveled around just in time to see one of the fools shaking the nozzle, splashing some of the acidic stuff onto the rider of the wingless brown from one of Valkryth's older clutches. She noticed that the dragon had gotten hit as well only after she sprinted from her spot, Seika chittering in complaint at the sudden movement and hopping into the air. Kthoniath settled into a lazy jog beside her rider, rushing to Purjth's side and crooning softly in an attempt to ease the pain even in the slightest. "Jaida?" she asked, making sure of the other woman's name before glancing at the rider's arm. "Here, dip your arm in this," she instructed, pulling a rather sizeable barrel of water closer as she motioned towards it. "It won't do much for the pain, but at least it will get the agenothree off of you," she added as she removed the cloth vest she was wearing, already tearing it into strips on the off chance that Jaida would need them.

Oh, I'm sorry that happened to you, brave Purjth, Kthoniath said as she rubbed her head against the brown's shoulder, crooning softly as she glanced down at the injured leg. It doesn't hurt too badly, does it? That fool should have watched what he was doing! I hope he gets punished soundly for hurting you and your rider.

---

Brown eyes closed for a moment, long fingers rubbing against his temple as he thought of the stressful time ahead of him. Thankfully, he had managed to get Anar into his cage, so that the kestrel wouldn't be flapping about with Thread falling all around him, but that did little to ease the anxiety on his part. It wasn't that he was concerned for himself, for he was convinced that he would do splendidly and that he would come out of his first actual Threadfall with no scores or other sorts of injuries whatsoever. It was more the worry for his uncle, who was up with the other full fledged riders in the thick of battle, that kept him on edge, one eye constantly glancing up towards the sky whenever he heard of a rider or dragon being injured. Liera and Versil, stuck in the Weyr as he was, would be in less danger than T'ere and his lovely black beast, Deruvianth. He opened his eyes just as quickly as he had closed them before picking up the firestone sack that one of the green weyrlings handed him to take to the fledged weyrlings, who he thought were decidedly few in number for the time being. The clutches that had produced the older weyrlings were a bit small, he had heard, while the latest few had provided the grounded weyrling wing with a good forty dragons waiting in the wings, so to speak.

Thinking back on the earlier events, when Threadfall had just started and the Wings already gone, he was grateful for the brief interaction with Versil that he had managed as they passed each other. The other young man was definitely something that helped his anxiety lessen, and the look in Versil's eyes had reassured him to the fact that T'ere obviously knew what he was doing, if he had managed to last this long as a rider in the first place. A part of him wondered if a dragon would find him worthy, and if so, what color would it be? A lovely black like T'ere's? Or perhaps a stranger, yet still lovely creature like Liera's Zath? Honestly, he would be just as happy if a dragon chose him or passed him over for Versil, since the elder lad had been Searched first. Besides that, Impressing meant being more social than he was used to now, and he wanted nothing to do with that life again. Sociality only led to heartache in the end; Rhaelinon had taught him that much, and he wanted little more to do with strangers than was necessary in his mind.

He noticed one of the weyrlings, the handsome bronze lingering around him obviously being that one's dragon, getting snapped at by one of the elder weyrlings, and Zakaerus narrowed his eyes at the red weyrling. This glare only worsened as the red simply took off, the rider not even bothering to make sure the younger bronze and his rider were well out of the way beforehand. The bronze's rider was worse off than his mount, a rather nasty laceration appearing in the young man's head at the force of the red's wing slamming into his scalp. Shaking his head at the insensitive way the red continued on, not even turning back to see if the bronze pair were alright after that experience. "Well, that was certainly rude of them," the young man muttered as he jogged over to the bronze dragon, who was now worrying over his bleeding rider. As soon as he arrived, he tore a large strip of cloth off of his shirt, gauging the amount he would need to at least close off the would to the air as he wrung it thoroughly through some water to take away any dirt or sweat that had happened to accumulate on it by then.

"Hey, you look like you could use a bit of help until the healers arrive," he greeted, smiling warmly as he kneeled down in front of the bronze weyrling, brushing a stray lock of his curly hair away from his face and making a note to trim it after this 'Fall was over. "That fool weyrling should have made sure you were out of the way before taking off like that. I hope he gets flogged," he commented, unaware that the bronze had made a similar promise to the rider. "I'm Zakaerus, by the way," he added as he took the damp strip of cloth and used a corner to wipe the blood off of the young man's face. The cut was deep, he could tell that already; not much he could do but wrap the cloth around K'lin's head and hope that it stopped the bleeding enough for the healers to do more with it. "I'm going to wrap this around that cut, to try to stop the bleeding. If it hurts at all, don't hesitate to tell me," he concluded, falling silent as he started to wrap the weyrling's head, trying to make sure it was tight enough to stop any more bleeding while trying not to hurt the young man further at the same time.

(( Any injuries short of lost limbs or other body parts is accepted for this group! 8D ))

E’ros.

“I’m busy, Morth.”

E’ros, listen to me-

“Morth, can’t you see I’m bagging ‘stone here?”

Duck!

E’ros didn’t even realize what Morth was talking about until a rain of ‘stone came falling down on them. Morth’s wings shot out to try and avert some of the pieces but there had been a good deal to hit his rider before he could. E’ros’ yelp of shock was short lived while his arms forgot the task at hand to cover his body from the impending pain that was to come. Sharp pains riddled up and down his spine. A string of cuss words flowed almost elegantly from his mouth, a single flowing river of them before the male shook off what small shocks of pain he had gone through. “How about NEXT time, you PUSH me out of the way!” E’ros snapped at Morth.

Had they been farther away, this would not have been a problem. Fecking riders up there are fools in the sky.

Aren’t they always?

E’ros rubbed his back, wincing at the pain until he realized he was not the only one hurt. One weyrling was quickly trying ot talk to his blue, the younger dragon down and out for a moment, while a brown was barking out outrageously about how he was going to “tie those tail ends of the dragon that did this” to his rider. Certainly an eventful ‘Fall. Things were thrown into mayhem, crazy as they were now. So many had run out to quickly flame the Thread the other riders had let through that as more things started to rush in, there were very few hands to help. The sharpest cry alerted E’ros immediately when a blue skidded to a faulty halt, rider being thrown to the ground.

Is this really our job for ‘Fall?

E’ros looked out at the Thread falling for them, the tons of weyrlings more concerned with sparing any others from being hurt, then at the ones that had already been injured. There was no point in fighting Thread without working Riders. “Come on!” The great black snorted, walking after his rider with great disdain lingering in his eyes. They were not healers, this was not their job. E’ros fell to his knees, sliding up next to the injured bluerider, crying in the pain of his poor shoulder. “Yo! Dude, come on,” he snapped. “You can’t be around here, let’s get you to the healer.”

”M-my shoulder!” he wailed.

Weakling cannot even handle a shoulder.

“This isn’t the time, Morth.” E’ros knew nothing on a healer’s job but sympathy tugged at his heart when he realized he knew this sensation, needing help and all. Reminded him of Reinn, caused him to think and worry about her. The small aches in his back from the ‘Stone reminded him that both of them were very eligible to be hit, perhaps out of commission for a while had the injuries been severe. He prayed Reinn was safe in those skies.

Your patient, fool boy?

Right. E’ros bit his tongue as he laid his hand on the shoulder that the man cried about. It felt different, odd in a way he knew. Here went nothing. Ignoring the man’s hollering ways, the blackweyrling quickly wrapped his fingers onto the shoulder and shifted it. This bluerider certainly didn’t take pain well as he shouted for it to stop. But it couldn’t stop. It wasn’t back, it wasn’t fixed. And then there was the sudden slip, the sensation that it had been all fixed. E’ros stilled when the shoulder shifted back into place, watching the rider with distress, thinking he had hurt him only more. Instead, there was a disgruntled sigh of the tiniest relief. Well, if you don’t do well as a rider, you certainly can be a healer as your parents were.

’Hush.’

“Sir? You’ll be fine. Come on, chap.” He, again, ignored the whimpering and moaning that followed as he hefted the male up to his feet and then swung an arm around him. That is a brave thing you are doing, E’ros.

“Shut up, Morth,”E’ros grumbled. “Come on, man, we’ll get you to the healers.”

((fail))

---

Ah! Falito!

The rider had no chance to react when his dragon went down, no longer leaning on his bonded for support. Zatristeth was sprawled on the ground, trembling slightly as he rested next to a great size of ‘stone. While shock did not register right away, the echoed pain certainly did. F’lit grasped the back of his neck, gasping under its pain before falling to his knees beside Zatristeth. My neck, F’lit. It was hit, it hurts. Growling in rage, F’lit reached over and grabbed the stone that had hurt his dragon, turning swiftly and throwing it in a random direction, thankfully managing to not hit others in his fit of rage. The pain was surely momentary but enough to cripple the dragon and man duo.

“Damn those riders!” he cursed, glaring at the sky where dragons and riders alike fought so valiantly. But in his eyes, this was more than that. A handler could’ve done so much more, with flamethrowers and firestone! Falito, past anger is not to be used in this case. You should be helping the others.

“How can I when you’ve gone and brought me down!?”

Those are harsh words. My pain is only momentary and my neck spines shall be fine very soon. There is still ‘stone to be bagged and work to be done, healers to help-.

“Hush up! I know there’s work to be done.” For a second, the anger at the bond bubbled in his thoughts but he could see Gl’rint for a moment, the story and the disappointment. Zatristeth’s eyes were on him, the pain still ebbing between them and the echoing emotions of others, their pain, their suffering. Zatristeth didn’t deserve this and his suffering was not being helped with a temper. Falito frowned and reached over, pulling at the blue to help raise him to his feet. Though Zatirsteth had grown larger since the hatching, he knew he’d always help this blue just because of the bond that had been born that odd day when the steel colored brute had climbed into those stands.

“Up. Come on, to your feet. I won’t let you fall.” Zatristeth was as determined as his bonded, quickly pressing feet to the ground in a race to climb to a standing position. They had a job, they had to keep going. This was not a time to be one of the fallen. Thank you. You are a good rider, Falito. But make haste, others have fallen and Thread comes near. Do not waste time on me. Go aid another, I shall be fine. You are one of the few that has worked with fire before in your times of being a handler. Do not leave them stranded in a time like this.

“You’re stupid,” the rider grumbled. “But you’re brave, I can say that. Fine, I’m out. I’ll try to be quick if I can. Don’t do anything-!”

Stupid?

The male bit his tongue but nodded. “Right, stupid.” Zatristeth could only feel the slight swell of pride as Falito ran off with the other weyrlings. He was the perfect choice. A leader among them. F’lit could be changed yet.

---

-M’ravi Post-

---

-Jaela post here-

---

-Soradia Post-

"Ariya! There's one just in front of you!" Ariya heard the cry of another weyrling as she arrived at the paddocks. She spotted the burrow and narrowed her eyes. Getting to work she sprayed the burrow for several moments making sure it was completely doused. Once sure the Thread had to be dead she glanced at the blue-weyrling who'd called out to her and waved to her.

"Thanks." she called to the older weyrling. She spotted the platinum weyrling shooing off the terrified herdbeasts then turning on a burrow with a vengeance. Her head snapped to the herdbeasts.

Gyita get some of the other weyrlings to help you keep the herdbeasts out of our way. the brunette said and Gyita dipped her head as she snaked toward the panicking herdbeasts.

\Aniwetath, Vipulath let's keep the herdbeasts on the other end of the paddocks away from our riders as they work.\ the rainbow marked black spoke to the other weyrlings.

The Herdbeasts were bawling and stampeding around the paddock, trying to get away from the horrid Thread that threatened them. Two brave woman were spraying the burrows, but it was not enough.

U'no was not usually one to rush into danger, he usually just floundered into it, neither brave nor a coward, just there at the wrong place in the wrong time. Today though, he broke that pattern. His blue eyes sighted the poor, terrified beasts and his mouth opened into an alarmed cry. His rather short legs pumped quickly, Vipulath grumbling and hip hoping behind his Rider, trying to keep up with the boy as the brunette grabbed a flame thrower and leaped into the paddock.

He waved his arms wildly to scare the herbeasts away before turning the nozzle of the tank on the nearest burrow with a vengeance.

---

This feeling was a lot different than he expected it to be. Thinking about something far off in the future was never the same as actually experiencing it, he supposed. He thought that his first real fledged Threadfall would be exciting, fun, heroic... but now that he was really here, double-checking the straps on Eneikith and running safety measures through his head, he was aware of just how serious this was. Before today, he had been on the ground level with a flamethrower for his candidate years and once he'd Impressed, he had been stuck with the task of sorting and bagging firestone. And now he would actually be in the air, right up there with the rest of the riders. Not necessarily fighting the Thread, but still out there in the danger. And he was more nervous than he thought he would be.

S'rak wasn't just worried for himself and Eneikith, but also for his little brother. Poor J'ki had never had the courage to face Thread before in his life, but now that he had Impressed, that confrontation was inevitable for him. Today he was with the rest of the grounded Weyrlings, hopefully out of harm's way, but it wouldn't be long before that changed and he was in S'rak's position. S'rak searched the scrambling crowd for any sign of the small boy or his beauty of a dragon, but he wasn't able to catch even a glimpse of him. He must be busy already, the elder Weyrling decided.

The bronzerider was about to return his attention to his dragon when a different Weyrling caught his eye. Not the boy he had just been searching for, but one he was still interested in seeing. He and Amaeda had become rather good friends in the short time that they'd known each other and S'rak didn't see any harm in exchanging a few words with her while he didn't have any immediate duties. He didn't see that sweet green of hers anywhere, which he found odd, but he didn't mention anything about that as he approached. Putting a grin on his face despite his currently solemn mood, S'rak waved to Ama and eyed the flamethrower she was carrying. "Already prepared to flame, huh? You ready for this?"

((Hmm... not the best post, but it's good enough. Feel free to injure him, just nothing very serious... no blinding, loss of limbs, ect. but regular injuries are okay. Feel free to injure Eneikith as well. 8'D))



That dimglow, how could he not be taking things seriously?! Okay, he had been hit on the head in that avalanche a while ago and T'lys would give him a bit of a break for that, but it wasn't like he was unable to see the urgency of the situation! This was important! And there were lives at stake, so how could he just wander around with that stupid grin on his face and pretend that nothing was the matter?!

Please calm down, Mine... you're not concentrating on the firestone...

'Easy for you to say, Bhaskarth. You're not the one who has to watch his idiot brother not taking things seriously.'

Mine...

Oh. Right. Maybe he was wrong about that. Bhaskarth was in fact also watching his brother Guryonth doing nothing but lazing around, but T'lys was the only one of them who was seriously pissed that the older brownrider pair were not doing what they were supposed to be doing. Someone oughta teach them a lesson, T'lys thought with a disgruntled huff as he turned his attention back to the firestone he was bagging. Let M'ravi goof off all he wanted, and M'ravi would be the one getting into trouble with their Weyrlingmaster, not him.

It wasn't long before an angry shout caught the boy's attention and he glanced over to where he was greeted by the sight of M'ravi getting verbally attacked by one of the older Weyrlings, E'ros. Thank Faranth, T'lys thought, unable to help the satisfied grin that spread across his face at the sight of his brother's misfortune. It's about time. M'ravi was pushed into a group of Weyrlings who were already busy at work, and T'lys turned back to his own work, still trying to hold back laughter.

Threadfall was serious, after all. There was no time to be laughing.

((As for T'lys and Bhaskarth... hurt either of them in any way you want. 8D Just nothing too serious...))