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[The_Muffin_Puppy]

20.01.183

It was an unusually pleasant day for winter in Fort. The sky was clear, and although the cold was still present, the biting wind was thankfully absent. People were content to walk across the bowl, instead of taking long paths through the tunnels. Dragons lounged on their ledges, attempting to get what little light there was to be found these days.

A blue dragon appearing in the sky above Fort Weyr was not an unusual event. It happened multiple times every day. This time however it was different. It took only a moment before the watchdragon's questioning bugle rang through the bowl. Dozens of dragon voices quickly rose in answer. Stranger! There was a stranger above the Weyr. Within a heartbeat the Weyr was alive with the confused calls of dragon, human and firelizard alike. Above it all the blue stayed, hovering in the air. While the individuals below scrambled to investigate. Humans spilling out into the bowl and dragons crowding ledges. The tension growing until somebody made a move.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

(Posted for TawnyAngel)

D'lana and Bronze Liarth

It was cold today but such things didn't trouble a dragon, the heat of summer was nice but its absence wasn't unpleasant. What was unpleasant was the short days, Liarth didn't remember Ista properly anymore but he hazily felt that there ought to be far more hours of daylight than they were and so after early drills the sleek bronze was taking the opportunity to sun himself on his ledge. Inside D'lana was busily penning a letter with a steaming mug of klah beside her and Sweetheart lounging atop the nearby bookshelf - all was well with the world, all was peaceful.

And then it wasn't.

Bellows and bugles rang out across the bowl; Liarth's head snapped up and he added his own voice to the cacophony in a brassy challenge. A moment later he was in the air, wings beating powerfully to bring him closer to the unknown blue. Who are you? State your name, your rider, and your business here!

D'lana had dropped her pen and scrambled out from behind her desk before she really realised what was going on. A strange dragon? How was that-? Was this one of those who'd fled their Weyrs when the sickness had started to spread? If it was they had a sharding nerve to show their face here!

Jaw set and eyes narrowed D'lana swept through her personal quarters, on through Liarth's weyr, and out into bright daylight on his ground level ledge. Shielding her eyes she could make the interlopers out but Liarth's gaze was keener than hers and he was closer; D'lana closed her eyes and reached out to share her dragon's vision.  

[TawnyAngel]

Stranger.

Lithustoth had never seen a dragon she didn't know before, and her high call added to the cacophony of the Weyr.

//Let's see what he's about! // She called to her Bastion Clutchmates and her offspring as she launched into the sky quick as a flash of lighting. What the presence of an unknown dragon meant she hadn't the least idea but if there was any possibility that his rider meant any harm to her home, well, she'd have something to say about that!

Even prone to temper as she was Lithustoth's thoughts might not have been quite so sharp had she had a different rider, but as it was she had V'. V' was not a fan of strangers, definitely not ones who appeared out of the blue without warning.

As the dragons called V' pushed back from her table in the dininghall with a deliberate ; "Right," and turned to stalk out into the weyrbowl. Sh'shi would probably say this wasn't weyrling business, but it was definitely weyrsecond business and so she was planning to find her mentor and tail the man like a good girl... Or something like that anyway.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Fiskenerath had been dozing on his ledge, as was often the case with the old brown. When all the ruckus began he raised his head, not echoing the noise created by the other dragons. There was a wary curiosity to his thoughts, but he had a duty. Rising the brown adjusted himself. Switching from a reclining lounge, to a more guarding position. Sitting upright, his wings mantled, looming over the Weyrling Barrack. His position had always given the Weyrlingmaster's dragon a good position to keep watch on the coming and goings of the Weyrlings. The only exit big enough for a dragon being directly below his ledge.

Reaching out to his charges he mentally took note of their locations, relaying the information to Sh'shi as she swiftly left the archives and made her way to the barrack. You are to remain inside until myself or the Weyrleaders tell you otherwise. He spoke to the Force of Nature and Colours Classes. Still living within the barracks, they should be in lessons or within the barrack at the moment. Meaning that there was no excuse for them to be out and risking getting themselves in whatever mess this was. Bastion were tailing, they would be wherever their assigned rider wanted them to be. It was not Fiskenerath's job to tell them where they could be. Still his gaze followed a familiar streak of green as she rocketed into the sky. Naturally. He reached out briefly to the older green. Not to scold or even speak. It was simply an statement of his presence. He was here. If she needed. Same as any other dragon he had seen grow within the barracks.  

[magnadearel]

M'li of Green Starelth

M'li was sitting in her quarters reading a scroll, when from outside there came a large dragon commotion. She looked up from her reading toward Starelth who was perched on the edge of her ledge. What's going on? A green rising? For that much noise, M'li rather expected one of Starelth's green sisters to be rising for the first time.

No, there is an unknown blue above the Weyr. Starelth's monotone voice informed her rider. Both females were intrigued by the unknown blue. What had brought him here? Where was he from? M'li sat and listened while her dragon passed her commentary. Starelth was more content to let her sister, Lithustoth, check out the blue first.




L'yan of Bronze Washawath

While it might nice for a winter day, it was still chilly outside for him. After Washawath had complained of an itchy patch, the young man had bathed the growing bronze and then brought him back inside the barracks for oiling. A cacophony rose up around them. What's all the hubris about? he asked frowning. There is a blue in the sky, the bronze replied. What's so special about him?

We do not know him. The pair moved to the edge of their doorway to peer out. Washawath raised his head to calmly look at the blue who was just hovering. Oh, L'yan thought. In a weyr this small, it was hard not to know everyone. Judging by the reactions it was something of a big deal. He watched as the weyrleader's bronze went up to challenge the blue. Washawath blinked lazily as his mother tried to call him to come check out the blue. He'd rather wait until the blue came down to the ground, flying was far too much work.




Candidate Turanves

Candidate chores were boring, but tolerable when his little brother admired him when he did a good job at them. He hoped the greens would lay their clutches soon. Would they have small ones like the first green, or slightly larger ones like the second? His firelizard, Huxali, swept in to land on his shoulder, chittering excitedly.

"I wonder what's going on," he murmured as he tried to get the images from his firelizard. The brown was excited and at first all he got was an image of a blue dragon. What was so special about that?

Thaliawen

Brothers!

F'ked of Blue Lerenth

An unknown blue has appeared! Lerenth informed his rider as he sat up and added his bugle to the noise. This was his weyr and he wouldn't let any harm come to it.

 

[TawnyAngel]

magnadearel

Candidate Turnaves ]

Candidate Lunathor

The day had been going by peacefully enough, he had work to do and felt alright in himself. Lunathor hadn't been expecting much more from the day than that, would've been very happy with that, but -

As the dragon voices lifted his heart seized and his broom clattered to the ground, so many voices, still painful... But what were they calling out about?

Lunathor ran his tongue over his suddenly dry lips, swallowed, and turned to Turnaves. "What," he cleared his throat, "Um, I don't know. Something's got them really worked up..... Should we go see?"  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

As Liarth flew closer he would quickly come to realise that this dragon wouldn't be capable of being a threat even if he wanted to be. The visitor was more grey than blue. Not with sickness as they were so familiar, but with age. Stringy muscle and a rather dull hide all indicated that this was a very, very, old dragon.

I am Foreyath, of J'hm. We have come to offer you aid if you will hear us. The stranger remained hovering, but he began to bob somewhat. The effort of remaining in the air showing in the beat of his wings and heave of his chest. From his back a face peered around to look at Liarth. Mostly hidden by goggles and riding helmet, whisps of white hair poked out at odd angles around the wrinkled face. The rider raised a hand and waved, offering a mostly toothless grin to the dragons near enough to make him out.  

[Ruhane Chiisai]

A'sa of Blue Dismath

A'sa had been working to convince her Dismath to be still and stop gaming so she could oil his hide, when his sleek head rose on its wiry thread of a neck. ~A new player approacheth!~ he bugled, and moved in such a way that A'sa hurried to get out of his way and wound up tripping over the oilbucket so she lay in the fluid. ~Whether he be friend or foe, all the weyr shall soon know!~ The rhyme was perhaps unintentional, but A'sa couldn't help a weak smile up at him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Careese of Bronze Toplamath

With Toplamath flopping about in the sun, sprawled on his spine in the sun with his wings flayed, Careese had instead been attending to her little blue flit-pup. The little wretch was playful as the day was long, per the moment, and he was a handful to keep up with. All at once, he gave a little chirrup and popped out of existence, his keeper staring at the empty space in front of her. "Toplamath!" The bronze had curled into a horseshoe-like position to get the best angle without getting up. All he offered was a distant ~Stranger!~ As if that was what he'd been waiting for, the great bronze finally rolled over and peeled his wing from under him to trumpet a greeting to the blue, even as a much smaller one sprawled across his face and chirrupped with him.

Careese sighed and moved alongside him to look up, curious. "Well... He's being investigated. Think it's someone from the south? Might be good for Ilharen to talk to sommat from home, yeh?" Her expression levelled again. "Course... Could mean somethin' devastatin' for the rider, too... Can't go home, chance'a dark days ahead..."

It was a few moments before Careese begged Topper's head come lower so she could reclaim the troublesome blue flit pup and hop onto her dragon's saddle. "Well, let's go meet him with the others." Toplamath watched her for a moment, then let his maw hang open with his tongue slung sideways. ~Friend?~ "Well, we'll see. Let's-" Careese had hardly climbed onto the dragon's back when her hands bolted for the lashings of his saddle, the dragon lurching to all fours and bounding forward and out of his weyr, bugling out his excitement. ~FRIEND!~ ~No. NO! TOPPER, SLOW DOWN!~ The dragon seemed to be teasing her, as he did just that a few moments after and gave her a big grin over his shoulder. "Great shells, Toplamath, you can be such a goof..." Careese couldn't help a chuckle, but nodded up at the blue so they could continue their climb.  

[Melomar]

((Just going to respond with these two for tonight, so I'm not holding much up, hopefully. ))

Weyrsecond D'io and Bronze Amaryssoth

Clear and cool, this weather energized D'io. He was old enough to know what happens when one lays about in the cool air. Amaryssoth was quick to pierce that chilly air with his bugle.

Ridermine, there is a strange Blue hovering over the Weyrbowl.

"Let's check it out. There should be leadership present to greet them." Of course, they were not the only 'leadership' present. D'io was not surprised by this. But he still wanted to be there to back D'lana up. He noted one of the Wingleaders and V' had come out as well as they arrived and began to hover and wait for a cue to act.

T'layo and Bronze Ekeneth

T'layo was tempted to stay on her weyr ledge when Ekeneth gave her the news about the visiting Blue. They would be in full riding gear but waiting without filling the sky with dragons. But she set that idea aside. As a Wingleader she had certain duties to perform and this seemed to fall under that category. Better to be overly cautious than negligent. So as the bowl began to fill with milling, curious onlookers, Ekeneth's glistening form vaulted into the air and they joined the others greeting or otherwise addressing their new, unsanctioned 'guest.'  

[TawnyAngel]

D'lana of bronze Liarth

"Come from where?" D'lana wondered aloud, squinting upward with her brow crinkled in confusion. What was the old dragon talking about? Only one way to find out.

//We'll hear what you have to say Foreyath, you're clear to land in the bowl. //

Of course the question now was whether to whisk the rider away to hear his news in private, or to let him speak publicly. D'lana knew that her counterpart would argue for openness, and perhaps there wasn't any harm in it - secrecy could breed rumours after all.

Even as these thoughts ran through D'lana's mind W'dol reached out through their dragons and said just that, so in the weyrbowl it was; the bronze rider smoothed her skirt and swept onwards towards the landing zone.  

[Revel1984]

Tininth caught the flurry of news moments before F'rell did, "Stranger?!" oh dear... was this good? was this a sick dragon? oh no... Tininth was in bits, if the dragon was sick, all her friends were at risk but ... it was also exciting, at least F'rell thought so. "it's ok dearest, let's go see?" he said, heading out towards the nearest ledge to Tininth so he could be right there, hand on her shoulder, as they looked out at the newcomer hovering over the weyrbowl, having to share the ledge with others.

"Hello" she said cautiously, seeing that he was just an old...a very old... dragon and his rider, rather than sick, she couldn't remember the last time she saw such an OLD dragon, if ever. F'rell either. She realised after she said hello, that she perhaps shouldn't have.. but he was old, it was cold even if dragonhide was normally impervious. His rider would be suffering from the cold surely?  

[Ruhane Chiisai]

A'sa of Blue Dismath

"Be calm, Dismath. The weyrleadership will do as necessary with him. He's fine." She'd finally managed to stand up and could feel the bite of chill working through her oil-soaked robes, staring at it. "Where's your hide itch the most?" She hummed, then had him lay down with that part exposed, and sat upon him. His warm hide helped neutralize her now-wet trousers, which also worked the oils deeper. It was odd, and it felt odd, but anything to make sure her Dismath felt better.

Careese of Bronze Toplamath

Careese's bronze finally came to a space just below the rest of the greeting party and paused, hovering there, himself. Careese offered a friendly wave to the rider, while Toplamath turned to Bronze Liarth and let his tongue loll sideways. ~Is friend?~ his great head turned towards Foreyath. ~Is friend.~, as though he'd already decided.  

[TawnyAngel]

Aid? What the shaff kind of aid was some old, unknown blue offering? To V's mind it stank, and the hard suspicious expression she wore as she hurried out into the bowl said that very clearly. Swooping and weaving around her, Brute hissed his agreement with her sentiment.

Lithustoth was no longer so sure, she knew in her bones that dragons didn't harm other dragons but.... The pair had been invited to land regardless, and she was curious to know what aid the blue thought they needed, everything was going just fine as far as she was concerned - two of her daughters had risen, and she had every confidence that they would soon clutch, assuring the Weyr that the future was secure. They had plentiful supplies from the many Hold's tithes. They faced no enemies. What could this dragon possibly do for them?

\V' is coming out into the bowl,\ she informed [D'io and Amaryssoth in her usual crackling staccato tones. \She wants to be with you when this happens. She doesn't trust them. Me, I just don't know w help they think we need.\  

[Melomar]

D'io and Bronze Amaryssoth

D'io was glad to know when Liarth announced that the Blue was cleared to land. Hopefully the rider would be more open to answering questions on the ground. Amaryssoth followed the others to land, and as soon as he had touched down D'io hopped down to meet the Bluerider and his mount. Having received Lithustoth's message, he went to meet V'

To be honest, I don't trust them either. But it's best to hear them out, for now.

I'll relay that for you, Amaryssoth informed his rider.

Thank you. We need to be careful what we say out loud.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Fiskenerath gave a displeased grunt. Reaching out to Dismath and Tininth. I will not tell you a third time. Inside until the Weyrleaders or I say otherwise. It looked unlikely that the new dragon would be a threat, but Fiskenerath had given the Weyrlings an order and he expected it to be followed. They needed to learn to respond to orders immediately, regardless of what they were doing, if they ever hoped to be even half-decent riders. Fiskenerath had no problem with giving someone a month's latrine duty for not listening. He rarely ordered the weyrlings to do anything, but his grumpy nature, meant not being listened to made him especially irritable.

Sh'shi had managed to rush her way to the Weyrling Barracks, and was stood outside. Looking just as intimidating on the ground entrance as her dragon did on the ledge above. Curiosity beat at her, but the Weyrleaders would handle this, she needed to stand at her post. Glancing sideways she spotted L'yan and Washawath peeking out of the barracks. They earned a raised eyebrow. At least they were technically inside. The look however was a clear warning, they best not take a single step further.

Ruhane Chiisai

Revel1984

magnadearel