Through Scorching Skies [Ista Weyr]

[PhazonDragon]

[ooc: Tag Faizah and Topaz definitely, then anyone else who wants to play fellow riders. See this thread for details. C:]

Today was a threadfall day. Careful planning allowed for riders and dragons to be prepared and set up even before the day started. Around the large expanse of Ista Weyr, riders and their dragons were getting ready. Bags of firestone were being hoisted onto the backs of the dragon, within easy reach of each rider. The day had barely started, with the sun just peeking over the horizon in the distance. The light primarily came from glowbaskets, placed strategically around the weyr so that there was not a single blind spot. At this time, watch whers stood guard, away from the bustle of threadfall preparations, but close enough so that they could warn the riders should they spot the silvery strands in the air.

Seeing as most of the weyr residents were sleeping, or just getting up, the only talk came in the form of muted whispers here and there. Turns of practice led to this. Riders communicated with drudges in silence. The drudges knew what the riders needed, and were quick on their feet as they gathered the proper supplies. To one side, weyrlings prepared, armed with flamethrowers so that they may pick off the extra that managed to slip past hundreds of dragons in the sky, wheeling and flaming. As the daylight grew, the whers headed in to sleep, their handlers rubbing their tired eyes. A few nodded to the riders, greeting them, and giving the thumbs up that the night went smoothly.

By mid-morning, the wing riders were ready, seated on their dragons, and gathered in clusters with their wings. As if on the same internal clock, riders began to feed their dragons firestone. The dragons chewed, ingesting it, and preparing for the fall to come. A few of the elder dragons tested their flame by breathing into the air, and satisfied with the results, sat back down on their haunches. A greenrider took off on her own, winking between. Not more than two seconds later, the green dragon returned. "Thread!" the rider yelled, calling the dragons into action. The bronze Wingleaders sprung into the air, with their Wingseconds close behind. Bringing up the rear, the rest of the dragons followed.

The only ones that didn't leap into the air were the golds, injured dragons that wished to see their friends off, and a particular green dragon. Z'volm clutched the familiar flamethrower in his hands, and looked to the sky as the dragons left, one by one disappearing into the cold of between. The greenrider looked over at the golden dragons of Ista, four at this time, each with their riders holding onto flamethrowers. Threadfall always rolled around, and always, Z'volm was stuck on the ground with his green, Crucith. The green grunted at her rider's thoughts.

You know they will not let me chew firestone... she said, in response to Z'vom's thoughts. As if I would set a dragon on fire, Crucith lied. She shifted her weight, jostling Z'volm from side to side. I can flame thread... I do not need you to use that box that shoots fire. Huurmph. The green's tail swished back and forth in agitation.

Z'volm patted the green's thick, muscular neck, feeling a few tiny scars underneath. "I know, I know, but they aren't going to let you. And you know that. We're stuck with the queenly golds, near the ground, because you have an uncontrollable urge to harm other dragons. And people for that matter." Z'volm rolled his eyes. "Oh, the golds are going. Come on, we're with them, you know," he said with disdain. Z'volm held onto the flamethrower as Crucith took a few steps, and propelled herself into the air, staying aloft with a couple of wingbeats.

Of course... Crucith hissed.

[Topaz]

S'ral and Makareth burst out of between, eyes quickly scanning the sky for the familiar, yet abnormal, cloud that made their skin and hide crawl. This will be a long one. Don't do anything flashy. The bronzerider said affectionately, clouting his mount on the neck. Makareth growled in amusement and soon after let out a frightening roar as his mindmate pumped his fist in the air, signaling the rest of the wings to flame at will.

As they reached the first clump, the big bronze let out a large cone of fire, swerving to the left to avoid the resulting ash cloud. They betweened, swerved, and rolled through the raining thread, all the while making sure to keep their ears and eyes peeled for any rider-pairs in trouble.

[Samari]

B'ran was weaving to avoid the heavy clumps of Thread that fell too close. Sadoth had been preparing for his first flight with a Wing for weeks on end. His bonded was humming with excitement as well. The young bronze let loose a searing stream of flame on a particularly thick clump. He patted his dragon on the neck.


"Nice shot, Sadoth."



"I am thrilled to be flaming with you, B'ran. It is an honor to be in Makareth's wing."[/color]

[FaizahPandora]

Catrena winged forwards, flaming the bits of Thread that the other wings missed.At the same time she kept her eye on the green menace. Her Gold, Shath, rumbled for her Rider to keep her attention on the task at hand. Catrena complied, but it wasn't long before the GoldRider had diverted her attention again.

Please, Mine, let us fight the menace. Shath asked as she swerved to avoid a rather large peice of the silver problem.

I am. The sooner I get the Green Menace from my Weyr, the sooner no dragon has to look over their shoulders for safety. Catrena said. She was very much tempted to flame the green when it flew close enough...

[PhazonDragon]

As the sky above erupted into bursts of flame, disintegrating the deadly strands into ash, Z'volm hardly kept his focus on the task at hand. The wings above were perfectly capable of charring the thread, and the Queens near the ground were able to take care of the clumps that the wings missed. Crucith had broken formation from the golds early on--they wouldn't miss the green pest anyway. And with the green's mind of her own, she wasn't about to let others dictate her actions.

There is thread ahead of us, Z'volm.

The green's raspy but entrancing voice jostled Z'volm back to attention. Indeed, a missed clump of thread was in front of them. The greenrider adjusted the flamethrower into a more ready position, and as Crucith pulled up to it, Z'volm let loose a stream of fire. The thread was gone in seconds, and Z'volm jerked back from the unwanted heat. Thank you, my dear. Now, shouldn't we get back with the golds? he asked, taking note of the green's side-tracked flight.

Crucith rumbled in annoyance, but didn't change course. No, she stated simply. At Z'volm's prodding, she continued with, They don't want me there, and I don't want to be there. Crucith angled her wings, sending Z'volm into a slow climb. Instead, I'll go to where I should be. With the rest of the wings. The green's multi-faceted eyes were staring at an object. A young bronze and His.

Z'volm raised an eyebrow. Crucith... What are you doing...? Come on, back down, we are with the Queen's Wing. He worriedly patted the green's neck, but when he saw what she was looking at, his frown turned into an evil grin. Oh I see. Well why not? I'm always up for a little fun... He immaturely urged his green on. Before you get tired and have to switch out... Let's make it quick. In and out, all right? Crucith let out a low growl in response.

[Topaz]

The Weyrleading pair were a little too preoccupied with heavy threadfall to notice the slinking green figure rise up from the lower ranks behind them. Makareth was certainly uneasy for some reason, but S'ral chalked it up to the intensity of the Fall.

You're doing great. We should be about hal- Top left. The bronzer's speech was frequently interrupted by quick directional indicators of the next closest clump of falling thread. There were quite a lot of them. Just keep at it. Focus. We're about half way there.

Gireth, Bokith, and Rasiketh are all injured and have headed back to the Weyr. Bokith is serious. His was hit as well.

S'ral gritted his teeth and snarled, staring up at the silvery green cloud causing all the trouble. Makareth flamed another big clump and swerved to avoid a few smaller ones. In his agitation, he lashed his tail, just grazing a smaller clump behind them, and immediately betweened.

Are you alright? S'ral asked as he shook himself of the cold. What's gotten into you?

I am fine. But something is not right. My insides churn with unrest. I would like to see this Fall ended as quickly as we can see to it. The big bronze admitted, letting out a fearsome plume of fire to char two clumps of thread at once. He swerved quickly to dodge the smoke and ash and was already flaming the next batch.

S'ral always had faith in his dragon's instincts, as any rider should, but his agitated movements were concerning. Just focus, big guy. I'll keep an eye out for you. He said, trying to relieve the bronze's tension with a pat on the neck.

[Samari]

B'ran was totally unaware of the approaching Greenpair, as well as Sadoth. They were a bit busy weaving and trying to avoid heavily falling Thread.




"Something's amiss, Sadoth.




"Yes. We are not flaming enough."[/color]




At that, Sadoth opened his maw and shot another stream of flame at a clump of Thread.

[FaizahPandora]

Catrena and Shath were focusing on flaming the silver menace. One clump was missed by a Junior goldrider and scored the side of Shath's leg. She immediately went between and reappeared slightly above the other goldriders.

Who was the cause of that? I'll have their head once this Fall is over... Catrena asked.

Shath didn't reply, but continued to avoid Thread as Catrena flamed it. Neither took notice of the whereabouts of the Green Menace.

[PhazonDragon]

Crucith crooned in evil happiness as Z'volm allowed for her to chase down the young bronze. She passed by the weyrleader's bronze, flaming thread. The green turned away from the bronze just as he went between only to be startled when the bronze reappeared a few seconds later. She snaked her head down to stare at the bronze. He seems like a good target as well...

Crucith, don't bother yourself with that one... This younger bronze needs a lesson in thread-fighting, doesn't he? Z'volm said, patting the green's neck again. Wouldn't you like to show him? The rider pressed himself against the green's back, making Crucith more streamlined so she could climb higher with less resistance. He laid the side of his head against the warm hide, enjoying the ripple of the green's wings with every wingbeat.

Yes, a lesson. During threadfall, Crucith fabricated, shooting past the weyrleader and his bronze in a green blur. Nothing like the real thing, right? Crucith fixed her sight on the younger bronze above her, evading the falling strands of thread, which gained the pair some annoyed looks from those having to pick up the slack. Z'volm would have charred the stuff, if it wasn't for the constant twisting of his green, plus nothing like watching others squirm when missed thread fell on top of them.

Ahead, the rider pair that Crucith had picked up was now breathing flames at the thread, only serving as a beacon for the greenrider and his dragon. Yes my dear Crucith, nothing like the real deal, Z'volm confirmed, urging his green forward. Give them a quick startle, but don't let them get away, the rider directed. Crucith growled in anticipation, and put on a burst of speed to rocket towards the young bronze.

[Divka]

K'rin snarled viciously as he urged his dragon to dodge the thread, sending a wave of flame to scorch it out of the sky. With a giant bugle close to that of a warcry, his dragon Rinkharth shot to Between, emerging behind a particularly nasty clump of thread. His dragon had already been scored once by thread, a shoulder wound that would have left his wing useless for a few months had they not dodged in a particularly difficult maneuvar which was more luck than anything. Now thread fell all around them, the dragons working in an intricate dance to destroy the terrible threat. The sky was dark with the menace, but it was thinning out the more the dragons and riders fought and K'rin's lips pulled back into a triumphant smile as Rinkharth's eyes twirled a relieved yellow.

[Topaz]

A quick flash of green in his peripheral was slow to register, but after a full thirty seconds - and some acrobatic dodging by Makareth - S'ral finally mentioned the ill-positioned female to his dragon.

Just tell her to go back quickly. We don't have time to deal with their antics.

With an affirmative, the bronze grumbled and addressed the green. You are not in your correct wing. Return to the queens. Your assistance is not needed here. Without another thought, the bronze opened his maw to flame a clump of thread.