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Post by Dragon Song on Jul 22, 2010 21:23:40 GMT
((GUESS WHO'S HERE GUYS!!! ;D))
The ground underfoot was sodden with all the rain fall – thick, sticky mud that clogged and sapped strength. Where it wasn’t sticky it was slippy, making it nearly impossible to walk on, certainly not at any speed when healthy, let alone injured. But speed was what they needed right now. The pair of them were racing the clock, and so far it seemed they were losing.
Filthy clawed feet, their true colour only really visible under all the mud when you got to the knees, led the way forwards. 1 step, 2 step, 3 step, 4: Just one foot after another, keeping a steady rhythm. She was testing the ground ahead, trying to find the easiest path to be followed. Sometimes she’d sink and back out, beating her tiny wings in fury and hissing at the ground, as if it were responsible for the situation they were in now. As if it was conspiring against the pair of them in an attempt to make them stay out here forever. The sound of a stumble behind her and Dusk whirled around, crooning anxiously her eyes flaring up with yellow. Padding back she tried not to splash up the mud as she approached R’fel, who was leaning heavily on what was essentially half a broken branch. His right side had been badly injured with a number of long gashes that tracked all the way down from his ribcage to his knee and he could barely put any weight on that side, let alone walk any distance on it. So Dusk had searched around, found a fallen branch and half dragged, half carried it back to her bonded. Gnawing and stamping on it had gotten it down to a good enough size and it was now in use as a temporary walking stick. But even with the branch stick, going was still exceptionally slow.
R’fel managed a weak smile at the basilisk as she pushed her purple blue head into his good leg, rubbing her cheek against him and crooning worriedly. He was exhausted, and pathetically weak despite what the little creature had tried to do to help. Until not too long ago his left arm had sent a sharp stabbing pain whenever he so much as twitched it but now it was just a dull aching throb. Through the tatters of the sleeve he’d not bothered to remove, he could see that it was an angry red and swollen, most likely infected with something. His right side wasn’t much better feeling, though from what he could tell it wasn’t afflicted with the same infection – just exceptionally sore. They’d been travelling for three days now…or at least that’s what he thought. He frowned at the thought – it felt like so much longer since Cadoth… No, he couldn’t think about Cadoth. Not now. It would break him. Dusk’s voice broke the torment of memories in his head, chasing away the dark thoughts. Not far now. Mustn’t rest. Must keep going, nearly there! Her speech was improving day by day though it was still lacking in fluency and then sentences were often fragments But it was better than the single words and pictures she used to communicate in. Speaking of pictures, she was flashing him images of what lay ahead. She knew it was the Weyr entrance, as much as he did, because he did. But that distance looked like a never ending plain instead of the few 100 dragon lengths it really was. “It’s alright Dusk. Let’s keep going,” he rasped around a dry throat. Dusk crooned again at him then paced to the front once more. R’fel could feel the frustration radiating off her: she was livid that she couldn’t do more. He did his best to send positive vibes to her as helimped forwards, eyes fixed on her blue tipped tail.
It was a candlemark or two before they managed to cross the distance that should only have taken a quarter of the time. Dusk was frantic now, tensely pacing back and forth between R’fel and the direction they were going. She could feel how much more difficult he was finding this journey, and kept crooning encouragement at him, nudging him forwards occasionally. If she didn’t get him to this place he said was good then she would lose him. She couldn’t lose him! These healers, they had to be able to do something for him! And they would she vowed with a slight snarl. Let them try to not help! Progress was painstakingly slow, but eventually she guided him to the Weyr’s lower entrance. Then through the tunnel. Just that little bit further… They were so close to help! Suddenly R’fel collapsed, just as he reached the Weyrbowl. At first Dusk thought he’d slipped and tried to nudge him back onto his feet like she had done last time he’d fallen. But now he just wasn’t getting up. He wasn’t even trying! In a panic she tried to tug him up but he just patted her gently on the nose and pushed her off. He was sitting up at least, but even then she could see how unsteady he was. So she did all she felt she could do, and stood behind him so he could lean against her side. Eyes whirling rapidly in yellow grey and white shades she cast about, trying to see where there might be help. But all she could see were stupid for legged creatures, good for nothing! Bah! They’re runners Dusk. And they’re not good for nothing. It’s good to see runners again. Even his mind voice was quiet now, weak sounding. In desperation, she pressed her cheek to his to make sure he stayed conscious and then shouted into the minds of all hat could hear. Help! Someone help NOW![/b] Manners Dusk. Please help?!
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Post by Spiffy on Jul 23, 2010 10:22:13 GMT
"Right, clean that out with a little redwort to clear the rest of the mud and infection. I'll go get the numbweed," Shea said to one of the apprentices, who was kneeling down by his feet. As he stepped away he reassuringly rubbed the nose of the runner that was being treated: a gash in his foot from stepping on a sharp flint. The wound was minor, but caused a lot of pain, and the runner was of no use until it was well healed. It nuzzled him in return on his way past, his hand lingering on its soft muzzle. He wasn't teaching, per say, rather supervising the apprentice. As a journeyman and not a Master he was not permitted to teach apprentices, but seeing as none of the masters that applied for the position in the Wets had much experience of Beasting in a Weyr, the position had instead gone to him. So any apprentice that wanted Weyr experience had to hike all the way up to the Weyr from the Hold, and if they wanted teaching there, they had to drag a Master up with them. Most didn't. This particular apprentice was now stuck at the Weyr for a few sevendays, treating his own runner.
Served him right for not riding more carefully in this dreadful weather.
Speaking of dreadful weather, the rain had finally lessened up. Only that morning it had been lashing in sideways through the door to the sables, threatening to wet the pile of hay bales in the corner. Now the sky was overcast, but aggressively threatening more to come.
The numbweed pot. Now, this was something tricky to find. The darn thing was in such regular use that one could never tell which part of the stables complex it had been in last, or which absent minded apprentice, or journeyman, or himself, had left it there. But as he passed the door and said hay bales, he became aware of a commotion outside; the sorting and stamping feet of agitated runners. Hmm, that was odd, the dragons didn't usually come this far down the valley. The herdbeast pens were further up. He poked his head out the door, glancing quickly up at the sky, wondering whether he should get the runners inside again, in case they catch cold from yet more rain.
Help! Someone help NOW!... Please help?!
He snapped his head around as he became aware of the voice, but could see no-one. But that was a woman's voice. They didn't have any female beastcrafters at the moment, and he was pretty there weren't any women in the stables at the moment. So why couldn't he see anyone outside? Then Dawn erupted from between behind him, squawking raucously, flapping her wings in agitation. "What is it Dawn? There a tunnel snake near your clutch?" Normally she would have just eaten the tunnelsnake, so Shea didn't really know why he was asking. But Dawn zipped off down toward the pens, calling for him to follow, sending jumbled images back to him. "Dawn, what?! Steady on," he called as he jogged after her. Whatever it was, he didn't particularly want her getting injured, again, so close after clutching.
"Dawn, wait. Ah, come back here now!" He paused, stunned. "What the..." Dawn had settled on the ground, chittering at what he had first taken to be a rock, but no rock was blue, and rocks didn't move. Dawn, extremely agitated now, for once actually obeyed her human and betweened back to his shoulder, but he wasn't paying her enough attention any more to tell her to shut up.
He stood and stared for a few seconds, mid not quite processing the information his eyes were giving it. That shape, blue and brown and covered in mud, looked... oddly familiar. Gradually the lumpy shape split itself into two, two distinct forms, two...
People?
No, wait... a dragonet?
"Shells!" he said, jumping forward toward the two figures in the mud at a dead run, sliding to a stop in the mud before them. "Oh my days, what on Pern happened to you!?" he said, reaching forward and laying his hand on the man's forehead, muttering "cold" before lowering his hand to his neck, checking for a pulse. Quiet unnecessarily, seeing as the man's dragonet was still there behind him. But in doing so he finally got a good look at the guy's faceWhat he saw made him stop in astonishment. He knew this guy, his face, his clothes. He'd talked to him, talked about runners, worked with him, helped wash his dragon, even considered him a friend. And he thought he was dead.
"R'fel?"
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Post by Dragon Song on Jul 25, 2010 23:09:42 GMT
Dusk was at a loss. She didn't know what to do, felt helpless. But now her fury at feeling so useless had dissipated and she was just left feeling... numb. Stunned. Normally she'd snap at something that got in her way, that tried to thwart her. But she just didn't know what to do. She was too young really, not that her age was going to be of any use in this situation. It wasn't going to change the fact that there was no one coming to help hers.
Her head drooped low to the ground and she whimpered. It seemed like all she really could do, not that it would be any help she thought bitterly. Shivers ran through her small body as she no longer bothered to fight off the cold and remain strong. She could feel R'fel's mind slipping away now, and she knew. Oh how she knew what was going to happen. It wasn't fair! Her natural fighting spirit flared up as she thought about the unfairness of life, and decided that she disliked it. Then like the flaring of a flame it was gone,and she was stood defeated once again. Up until she saw a movement coming towards her, and heard the shrill chittering.
Raising her head, Dusk wasn't sure if she should let the hope kindle. Was that... help? Someone had listened to her? Well of course someone had listened to her! She was Dusk, and amethyst after all! Why wouldn't they listen to her?! She bristled slightly, her ting wings flaring out as the other man touched her R'fel, but then she reminded herself that he could help. That he would help! That was what he was here for after all! Wait... he knew R'fel? He must know him, he knew his name after all! Would Hers respond? He didn't seem to, and Dusk whined at him, pressing her nose into his hand and flashing him images of the person before them both. He had to respond! He just had to!
R'fel was grateful that Dusk let him lean against her. He had been seriously doubting his ability to keep himself upright. Frankly he was amazed he'd made it back to the Weyr. He knew he should be dead. Surely he was just living on borrowed time. That's what it felt like now. Sitting in what should be icy cold mud but that didn't feel cold, becoming less and less aware of what was going on around him. He could feel Dusk, prodding at his mind, trying to get him to stand up. But no, he just wanted to sleep. That was all. He simply wanted to... sleep...
He was dimly aware of the fact that there was a hand on his forehead. Dimly aware that someone was what he could only assume was checking his pulse. Silly, he was just going to sleep. That was it. Then though, there was a voice. t echoed slightly, and whatever was said didn't register in his fogged brain. But he knew that he knew that voice. Who was it again? There was blackness at the edge of his vision and he couldn't focus, but he still felt the need to find out who this was. He half lifted his head, trying to make dark eyes focus on the blurred shape in front of him. No such luck. Oh well, he'd tried. Dusk however, didn't seem to think he was trying enough. She started sending him images, and it took him a little while to process them, but eventually he recognised them. That... that was Shea! He knew Shea! He tried to say his friend's name, tried to force a numb mouth and tongue to cooperate. Even he could tell that he'd managed an incomprehensible mumble. But Dusk picked up on his thoughts.
Shea? You is a Shea? Is a Shea a Healer? she asked rather hopefully, directly to the man before her. But before she had time to question him further, she felt R'fel slump against her. She screeched in her panic, whirling around in the mud to snatch at his collar as she felt him sliding down her side. She managed to catch him, but it didn't do much. There she stood, splay legged in the mud holding her rider by his collar, whimpering in fear and panic. Probably the only time she'd be caught whimpering in her life. But R'fel wasn't dead. Not yet anyway. He'd lost conciousness, but he was still alive. For now. Dusk fixed her whirling eyes onto Shea before her, and summoned up her best authoritative voice. Shea help R'fel NOW! Clean wounds! Clean wounds with stuff on hands! she demanded, picking up on the scent of redwort around the Weyrherder. She knew that it would help, though she didn't realise it was R'fel's memories that were supplying her with the information. All she knew at the moment was that that smell would help. And who had time for manners?! Then in a moment of more fluid speech, she added, Please! I can't lose him! You have to help! You have to! as her fixed stare became a desperate plea.
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Post by Spiffy on Jul 28, 2010 16:29:18 GMT
Shea felt R'fel move under his attentions. Ah, that was good, at least he was still conscious. If he went under now then there was no telling what his dragonet would do. The last thing R'fel needed now was for the little one to between.
And that was another thing, though Shea, part of his mind going off on a slight tangent as the other half counted pulse beats; why did he have a dragonet with him? And where was... oh what was his name, Cadoth? Yes, Cadoth, that was it. Only a sevenday ago the man had had a dragon, as healthy and spritely as any other in the Weyr. Shea could only have come to the conclusion that both R'fel and Cadoth had died in the attack - his mind shied away from the subject - but he, as much as anyone, had lived in the unspoken hope that someone, anyone, would return. And now that day had come, but it was so totally unexpected that Shea found that he didn't know what to do.
He was dragged back to reality by R'fel. He'd said something! This was good, really good. What had he said though? Ear? Hear? Sh- ah yes, Shea. "Yes, R'fel, Shea. Shea is here, R'fel. I'm- I'm gonna-"
Shea? You is a Shea? Is a Shea a Healer? The thought cut into his own. Cadoth- no not Cadoth, too small. This had to be a different dragonet surely, but from where? Baby dragons didn't magically appear from between,! Surely? But before he could formulate ay kind of response in his befuddled mind the small creature shrieked, R'fel slipping out from under his hand as he slumped back onto his dragonet.
"R'fel!" he shouted, uselessly, lunging forward to catch him, but the blue got there first. "R'fel, wake up. Wake up!" he said shaking the man's shoulder, not daring to slap his face in the presence of his whimpering dragonet - he knew better than that.
Shea help R'fel NOW! Clean wounds! Clean wounds with stuff on hands! Please! I can't lose him! You have to help! You have to!
He looked up, blinking, into the dragonet's fixing gaze. He hadn't paid it much attention except that or worry until then, but now that he looked at it he concluded that it was really a strange looking little thing, little even by dragon standards. But he wasn't going to tell R'fel that. But not because he couldn't - he would have the opportunity, and he would choose not to take it. R'fel was going to live. As the litle mite said, he had to.
He began to answer the little creature, getting as far as saying "Yes, of course," before his eyes widened as the niggling thought at the back of his mind burst to the forefront in startling realisation.
"No" he breathed, stunned into almost silence before scrabbling backwards frantically, pulling, kicking at the mud, anything to get away from that... that thing!
"No! Get away! Get away from him, you monster!"
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Post by Dragon Song on Jul 28, 2010 18:23:34 GMT
Ohhh! He just had to wake up! Dusk just stood there holding her rider as the Shea tried to shake him awake. It wasn't having any effect by the looks of it, but she still watched the other man's efforts. When he stopped she took to shouting into her rider's mind, but she got very little response. Very little, but she knew he was still alive. He would stay alive because she said he had to stay alive! She made sure he was aware that he wasn't allowed to die on her, even if he was unconscious. Dying was most distinctly not allowed!
Her faceted eyes met Shea's own, and the stare was held for a moment. Then he was agreeing. he would help! He was going to help R'fel! Dusk could have trilled her happiness if she wasn't still holding R'fel half off the ground, still by his collar. she really should set him down, before she cut off his ability to breathe. Now that would not be good! Gently she began to lower him, so that she could be more use when she caught the whispered sound from Shea. No? What did he mean no?! Was he refusing to help?! He'd better sharding well not be! He'd said he would! Already she bristled slightly, but was then shocked into a motionless stupor at Shea's outburst.
What was he doing?! Where did he think he was going?! Who the SHARDS was he calling a monster?! Indignant outrage took over Dusk, replacing the shock in a matter of moments. She finished settling R'fel down on the ground, hating to have to put him down like that and let him lie in the mud but it was necessary for now. Her eyes flicked from worried greys ans yellows to a furious whirling red. She was most certainly not about to leave her lifemate! She was going absolutely nowhere until he was somewhere safe and recovering!
Stepping over him, Dusk stood protectively over the unconscious form of the ex bluerider below her, front legs one side, back the other, tiny wings flared out. And she hissed dangerously at Shea. She was going to protect her R'fel no matter what! For all she was a baby she could produce remarkable sounds already and the hiss was most distinctly threatening. It soon deepened into a rolling snarl, and Dusk's tail lashed out dangerously behind her as she dropped down slightly, crouching nearly. With her small size she could almost be considered comical in what she was doing, up until you heard the noises she was making. She was absolutely outraged! He had the nerve to threaten her, and refuse help to her rider! How dare he.
Get away? Never! Never leave R'fel, I will never! You! She took a tiny half step towards Shea, distrust oozing out of every inch of her purple blue, mud covered hide. You said would help! Now you won't! You leave him to die? Her tone was harshly accusative, no more the pleading one it had been before. Dusk was no longer trying to help her rider, she was protecting him no matter what. R'fel think Shea as friend. I see no friend! Go! Away! Her jaws snapped shut with her command, and she glared at Shea. Oh how her opinion of him had changed now. He'd gone from possible saviour to probably the person she distrusted the most in a matter of mere minutes. Well, so far he was the only other person she knew but by the egg she wasn't about to like him very quickly at all! Absolutely not!
With a final menacing look at Shea Dusk turned back to nuzzle R'fel's neck, crooning at him once again to try and get him to wake up. Every so often she would snap her head round to glare at Shea and make sure he wasn't coming any closer. Vibes, thoughts, pictures, orders: all were throw at R'fel to try and make him wake up. She even tried recalling images of the one he'd called Cadoth, pressing those onto his mind. Nothing seemed to be working. Nothing at all! She was running out of options quickly. But she point blank refused to turn to that Shea for help. She'd rather die then go back to him for help. Not that he would anyway, despite what he'd said, she thought bitterly. Another glance over her shoulder to check where he was, make sure he wasn't coming closer. He was dishonest. Couldn't be trusted. She didn't want him anywhere near her rider.
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Jester
Betweener
[P:300]
Posts: 54
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Post by Jester on Jul 28, 2010 19:40:31 GMT
Luna let out a sigh as she stepped around another mud puddle. It had just finally stopped pouring and Luna had jumped at the chance to get out of her stuffy room in the barracks and get some fresh air. She looked up after once again stepping around a puddle to see the stables just up ahead. She looked at it for a second before deciding to go see how Shea was doing. It had been a day or so since she'd last seen him.
Just as Luna turned toward the stables a shout rang in hear head. Help! Someone help NOW! Please help?! The unexpected shout surprised her so much that She slipped and fell backwards right into a big puddle of mud. She spun her head around trying to find where the shout had come from, mud flying from the back of her head that had too landed in the dreaded mud. Luna could feel her heart pounding against her chest.
Luna looked over at the stables just in time to see Shea run out following his flitt Dawn. Luna struggled to stand as her feet threatened to slip out from under her. "Shea! Wait, what's wrong?" She quickly lost sight of Shea as she slipped in the mud once again. Luna winced as her knee met a rock buried in the mud. "Ow, I'm really starting to hate mud now." She pushed herself back up and continued in the direction she had seen Shea running, slipping many more times as she did.
Luna slide around the corner just barely catching herself from meeting the muddy ground again. As she fought to catch her breath she looked up to see Shea on the ground backing away from something. "Shea, what are you-" Luna's head whipped around when she heard the hissing. She stared for a moment before moving her muddied hair out of her eyes to make sure she was seeing right. What she saw was a mud covered bluish purple dragonet looking thing trying to to hold up a wounded man.
Luna only stared for a second longer before practically lunging at the man as she tried to get to his side without falling in the mud again. She half succeeded as she slid to a stop on the his side the dragonet like creature was not pushed up against. Luna struggled to lift the man as she put one of his arms over her shoulder. Luna tried to get her feet back under her as she tried to stand with the mans weight pushing down on her shoulders. Luna looked over at Shea to see him still backing away. "By the egg Shea, get your butt out of the mud and get some help! Now!"
Luna felt one of her feet slipping and struggled to find good footing as she tried to take more of the mans weight. "Just hold on a little longer. We'll get you taken care of, I promise." She held tighter to his arm as her other arm wrapped around his waist. Luna gritted her teeth as she started to slowly make her way in the direction she thought the infirmary was.
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Post by Spiffy on Jul 28, 2010 22:06:44 GMT
Shea's mind was in turmoil. Thoughts whizzed about in his head, twining around each other and struggling for dominance. Foremost among them was fear. Fear that screamed at him, pleaded for him, ordered him to get out, get away from here and get away from the creature of nightmares sitting right there in front of him. Yet a fear that held him solid on the ground, held him hard and fast and frozen in place like the vast glaciers of the North. It was al he could do to sit in the mud, eyes fixated on the creature standing, hissing, over the unconscious form of R'fel.
But there was another, creeping up behind the fear - his thoughts for R'fel. Shea had never, never, abandoned a friend before. So why was he doing it now? What on Pern was making him eve consider running away from a situation, even one as weighty as this. Shea lived for his friends. He spent his life making them. People were his life, his heart, his soul, and he had never once questioned that simple fact.
What the creature said next cut him to the quick.
Get away? Never! Never leave R'fel, I will never! You! You said would help! Now you won't! You leave him to die? R'fel think Shea as friend. I see no friend! Go! Away!
Her speech was rough but poignant. And the more Shea glared at her - for he was now in no doubt that she was female, despite her colouration - the more he began to doubt his actions. He had been brash, acting on impulse and without thought. This creature, be it dragon or no, obviously cared a great deal about R'fel. Shea would even go as far as to say he had Impressed it. In fact, he was sure he had. He was in no doubt that she wouldn't leave R'fel should all the wrath of the Weyr fall upon her head. And until a minute ago he would have said the same thing. She was right: here he was, denying possibly life-saving aid to a friend, leaving him to die.
This - these creatures, whatever they were, had killed the Weyrleader, the Weyrwoman, both their dragons, practically every dragonrider of any rank and many more besides. And they were still dying. But this creature, his jumbled mind concluded, had done none of this. She couldn't have - she as simply too young. Cadoth was obviously gone, killed by the... creatures, a thing of the past. This whatever-she-called-herself had obviously come along after that. That meant that she was a sevenday old at the most.
If she wasn't deserting R'fel, then neither would Shea.
It wasn't until he reached this decision that he realised that he'd been crying. Tears had carved narrow runnels through his mud-splattered face, leaving a salty tang on his tongue. Blinking them away, he sat up, pushing himself out of the heat-sapping mud, and only then did he see Luna. He hadn't heart a word of what she'd said, and was stunned out of his silence by her appearance.
"Luna, get-" he cut himself off abruptly, remembering his own decision that the little creature meant them no harm, at least not in the immediate future. Still, she seemed pretty angry, certainly because of him, and that alone was reason for caution. "Luna, just... just be careful, alright." he said, cautiously, trying not to anger the creature further than he had already managed. He watched her futile efforts to pick up R'fel for a second, before standing up and taking a step toward her, never taking his eyes of the creature. He halted, though, as she snarled at him threateningly, her distrust for him evident in her madly swirling eyes. He sighed momentarily - if he didn't sort out his mess now then R'fel would never get the help he needed.
"Look, dragon, or whatever you are, this has got to stop. What I said to you was wrong, alright? And I admit that. I was stupid and I shouldn't have done it." The words came out of him in a rush. "But I'm not gonna desert him any more than you, and if you don't let me get to him now then there's no way we are going to get him to help before it's too late for him," he said, not daring to add on 'and you' to the end of his speech.
He took another step forward, hoping that she would at least let him get close. When he got to Luna he put a hand on her shoulder. "There's no way you'll get him back like that. And we'll never get him to the infirmary, it's too far," he said, slipping into Journeyman mode. "If I can get him to the stables I have redwort and numbweed there, and I can patch him up until the Healers get there."
On a sudden brainwave he looked up and around, searching for Dawn while scrabbling in his pocket for a scrap of hide. She was nowhere to be seen. She must have disappeared back to her clutch, he concluded. Digging out said scrap, he realised that it was useless unless he had something to write with. "Shells, I need a pencil," he said, realising that he'd left them all back at the stables, on the desk. He despondently held up the scrap of hide; it flopped soggily in his fingers, wet through and brown with mud. "Where's the sharding firelizard when you need her," he muttered.
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Post by Dragon Song on Jul 28, 2010 22:56:39 GMT
He hadn't moved. Good, he shouldn't be moving anywhere, unless it was to go back where he had come from. If he came much closer she'd get nasty. She wasn't afraid to attack, even if he was much bigger than she. And when R'fel woke up again, not if for he was most definitely going to wake up, she would make sure that she informed him that that Shea was BAD. If she had her way that two legged liar was never coming near R'fel again. Ever. And by the egg she would get her way!
There were footsteps that could be heard now. Dusk could hear them splashing up mud. Instantly she spun around to glare at Shea, expecting it to be him. But he still hadn't moved. She could see the marks where tears were flowing, and she faltered ever so slightly in her hatred and distrust of him. She'd seen R'fel like that, remembered the pain of his grief. Remembered the feelings that had flowed through the bond she shared with him when he had been crying, when she was barely out of her egg.
It didn't take long for her to steel herself again.
What was she thinking? Those tears could only be for his own selfish reasons. Fear maybe, worry that he was going to be hurt. Evidently he despised her but that was nothing compared to how much she loathed him. She didn't waste much time in puzzling out why the deceiving tailfork in the mud was crying, it had nothing to do with her. So she was soon scouting around for the source of the footsteps once again, her head rotating this way and that as she looked around.
Luna soon made herself clear, and Dusk quite audibly heard the words that she said to Shea. She knew Shea! Dusk was instantly on guard. Could this new person be another dishonest person like that Shea? Or maybe he'd deceived her too. The basilisk couldn't quite decide, but didn't instantly chase her off. After all, she could be here to help. Shea couldn't have been the only one to have heard her call. If he had been Dusk would go between and not come back.
She bristled and snapped at Luna's hand when she lunged for R'fel out of automatic response. She wasn't actually aiming for the girl and missed by quite a bit, but the warning was there. Luna had after all startled her, and she had no idea if she could trust R'fel's life to her yet. But before she could pursue her evaluation of Luna, who was already seeming to try and help at least as she struggled to pull R'fel to his feet, Dusk was distracted by the movement in the corner of her eye.
Shea.
Dusk was instantly advancing on him, snarling nastily. How dare he try and approach R'fel again, after what he had said. The moment he began to speak her head jerked up and she drew herself up to her full height, detesting the fact that she had to look up to be able to see his face. Her posture was defiant; chest out wings flared out to the sides, neck curled back and her expression almost haughty with her eyes still whirling in swift, violent crimson shades. More lies. more deceit. She didn't believe a word of what he was saying, it was just so that he could try and get close to R'fel and probably hurt him. Maybe even the girl, that Dusk had accepted was trying to help and had good intentions. She wasn't about to let that happen!
But the last sentence he said... and his tone. Dusk didn't want to let herself believe it but deep down she thought... maybe he was telling the truth? Maybe... just maybe there was some reason that he had been so shocked. And, when she thought about it, when he thought that she was the dangerous one she'd tried to keep her away from R'fel. Protecting R'fel from a possible danger that he didn't know, was basically the same as what she was doing now wasn't it? Grudgingly she had to admit that his last line was definitely at least partly true. If R'fel didn't get help he would die. She couldn't have that. That girl... she wasn't able to do much; she was too small, like Dusk herself. Too small to do anything worthwhile.
Eventually she conceded. Her eyes lost some of their red and regained yellow shades even as she continued to eyeball Shea. Slowly, almost hesitantly her wings dropped and folded back up to her sides, but her posture remained defensive. One wrong move, she threatened. And I hurt you. Hurt you bad. There was no joking in her voice. She was deadly serious. But she let Shea past, and watched from where she was stood. Yes, he did definitely know that other person. Not that that helped.
Healers? Did he say Healers? Until the Healers got there. That gave her hope, but she wouldn't show it. Not at all. Then he was muttering something. A pencil? Why did he need a pencil? Dusk hesitated for a moment, then realised it could be necessary to help R'fel somehow. She was going to have to work with Shea if she wanted to save her rider. Slowly she padded forward, ignoring his second muttered comment. Pencil? Where? I get. Need to help. Show place to me? she asked him, mistrust still written all over her as she moved to stand before him. Then, she turned to face the other person, trying to support R'fel. Her eyes met Luna's, for Dusk always felt the need to look someone or something in the eye (Unlike her rider). You help R'fel. Thank you. Hey, she could use manners if she so pleased. After that, her words could be heard by both Shea and Luna. You Luna? she asked, recalling what Shea had addressed her by. I Dusk.
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Jester
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Post by Jester on Jul 29, 2010 0:54:17 GMT
Luna looked up at Shea as she struggled to keep her footing and hold R'fel up. She hated that she couldn't help much, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try. "Alright, we'll take him to the stables. Just get on his other side so we can get him there faster." Luna tightened her grip on R'fel as she waited for Shea to grab his other side. She could feel the cold mud starting to seep through her clothes. She really hated mud now.
Luna struggled not to jump as she heard the voice from before in her head. You help R'fel. Thank you. Luna looked over at the dragonet like creature as she realized the voice she had heard had come from her. You Luna? I Dusk. Luna smiled at her as she quickly got used to hearing the voice in her head. "You're welcome Dusk. I'm happy to be able to help." As Luna got another look at Dusk, her mind tried to process what she was looking at. Dusk sort of looked like a dragonet, but something was off. Luna couldn't figure out what it was, so she decided to do the only thing she could do. She asked. "Um, Dusk? What exactly are you?" It didn't even cross her mind that Dusk might not be able to answer, or wouldn't. All she knew was that if anyone knew what Dusk was, it would be Dusk.
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Post by Spiffy on Jul 31, 2010 20:50:59 GMT
One wrong move, and I hurt you. Hurt you bad. He maintained eye contact with Dusk as he said this, nodding silently to show he understood. She wasn't joking, that he knew.
But once he'd looked away, he didn't notice her padding toward him until she spoke. Pencil? Where? I get. Need to help. Show place to me? "What?" was his first thought as he looked back down to her, in the process of leaning down, ready to haul R'fel onto his shoulder. "Wait, the pencil? That's not important-" he stumbled, an image of the desk in his 'office' flashing into his mind as he realised what she was thinking of.
"Oh no, oooohhhh no, you are not going anywhere. I am not letting you out of my sight until I know that R'el is alright." He eyed her seriously, but he couldn't help but let the panic come through slightly in his voice.
(Muse sapped by nasty film + now distracted by complicated film + I couldn't think of much for him to do between now and her poofing = short crap post. Sorry >.<)
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Post by Dragon Song on Jul 31, 2010 22:13:03 GMT
Dusk canted her head to one side to look at Luna quizzically when she asked what she was. She didn't understand what the girl meant at all. I Dusk. she repeated, not really knowing how else to answer.
Her eyes flicked red again when Shea denied her the right to go and get the pencil. Her tail lashed out behind her and she fixed him with yet another glare. Who did he think he was ordering her about like that? He wasn't her rider! Besides, even R'fel wouldn't be able to stop Dusk doing something she wished to do, even if he had been conscious. Shea had said he needed a pencil and so a pencil she would get! Granted it probably wasn't that important, but now that he had told her to do something, she was about to do the opposite. She managed to pick up on the image that flashed through his mind, and with a snort at Shea, she turned her tail on him. Rubbing her head briefly on R'fel's uninjured leg she took a few steps away and then, with another glare at Shea, went between.
Dusk was completely unaware of the havoc that she was about to cause for vanishing like that in front of them. To her, going between like that was perfectly natural. She reappeared just outside Shea's office, having not quite got it accurate. The door was half shut, so she reared up on her hind legs to push it open with her fore, leaving filthy paw prints on it in the process. Trotting into the 'office' she moved quickly, weaving in and out of everything. Then she spotted the desk that Shea had envisioned. She was far too little to be able to see on top of it though, so yet again she reared onto her hind legs, forepaws coming down to rest on the edge of the desk. Her wings extended to balance her, she surveyed the desk and spotted the pencil. It was out of her reach. Sharding thing. Hissing in her annoyance, Dusk dropped back down to the floor, then sighted the chair. Launching herself up onto it, she balanced on the seat then pushed herself up onto the desk itself. she didn't really care that she was leaving mud everywhere, nor that her claws had ripped some of the fabric on the padded seat. She was getting that pencil. With it seized firmly in her jaws, Dusk jumped off the desk and had gone between once again before she even hit the floor.
She'd only been gone a minute or so when she winked back into view, only a fraction away from where she'd been stood before she'd gone. She took a couple of bounding steps towards Shea and sat down before him, fixing him with a look and stating Pencil, nudging him none to gently in the lower leg to get him to take it from her jaws. That's if he would trust her enough to put his hand near her mouth.
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Post by Jester on Aug 3, 2010 19:27:34 GMT
Luna let what Dusk said sink in. "Huh, makes sense." While Luna waited for Shea to grab a hold of R'fel she noticed how Shea and Dusk seemed not to get along. She held in a sigh as the two glared at each other. She hoped the two would be able to stand each other long enough to get help for R'fel.
Luna stared at the place Dusk had been before she went between. "What the...." Luna looked around trying to see where Dusk had went. She was still looking when Dusk returned from between with a pencil in her mouth. Luna looked over Dusk and saw that a bunch of the mud was now gone. She looked over to where the stables were then back to Dusk. Luna held in a laugh when she realized what happened to the mud.
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Post by Spiffy on Aug 7, 2010 16:00:06 GMT
"Dusk, wait...!" he said cautioningly, and frankly uselessly, to the purple thing, followed by an exclamation of "shells!" when she finally disappeared, in time with Luna's "what the...". He muttered some more under his breath as mhe bent down to hurridly take R'fel's pulse, just to make sure that Dusk had betweened for the reason she claimed. She hadn't screamed when she went, rather glaring at him, so he didn't think things had suddenly taken a turn for the worse. But yes, R'fel did still have a pulse, thankfully, so Shea sighed in relief ad turned back to Luna. He'd heard the question that she'd asked Dusk, that of what exactly she was, but had made a point of ignoring the question, even if he knew the answer. There was no way he could prevent Dusk saying, that he knew even if he had tried to stop her betweening, but from Luna's perplexed reply he could only assume that she hadn't gotten a proper answer. So he tried to keep the worry out of his eyes as he spoke to her. In the current situation there was no point him saying and causing the girl to panic, if she would do so: he needed her too much right now. "I wouldn't worry about what exactly Dusk is for now. All we know is that she's Impressed to R'fel, and that makes her the most one here right now in respect to him. Whatever happens, we must not loose her. For that to happen I fear it would be too much for R'fel to bear when he wakes up," he said instead, not feeling the need to add what each of them were undoubtably thinking; if R'fel woke up at all.But then, with a slight pop, Dusk returned, more or less to the exact point that she had left from. He resisted the urge to flinch when she bounded up to him, something held in her maw. Pencil she said into his mind, and he understood. "Ah, right," he said intelligently, reaching back into his pocket to get the soppy piece of hide. "Thanks," he added, as he tried his best to wipe some of the accumulated mud off of the scrap before carefully scrawling a short message onto the hide. Survivor, badly injured, stables, COME NOW He considered his options for a second. He couldn't send Dusk to get him, he didn't want her to disappear again. Dawn, she was back with her eggs. She hadn't been gone long, but was doubtlessly still upset. He closed his mind for a second, trying to compose himself and clear his turbulent mind enough to seek out that small presence in the fringes of his conscience that was his flitter. Dawn, please come back. I need you, he sent out to her. Hopefully she would hear him, and even more hopefully she would respond. She was less ditzy than a green, but just as stubborn when it came to getting her own way, and much less inclined to do as another said. But, shortly after he opened his eyes, she popped in not far from him, chirping quizzically. Hmm, apparently he had been forgiven, but that was irrelevant now. He stretched out his arm to allow her to settle on it. Lolking her in the eye, he said, slowly: "Dawn, I would like you to take this to the Weyrhealer. Take this to Master Aydrian, OK?" he said, fixing a firm picture of the Weyrhealer in his mind as he fixed the hide in her front claw with his free hand. "Aydrian, go!" he said, throwing his arm up into the air as she sprang aloft and disappeared between. He looked down at R'fel again, something he had been trying to avoid for the last minute or two, and his mind fell into confusion again. He struggled for a second to get a straight thought out. Resolutely, he bent down and hoisted R'fel as carefully onto his shoulder as he could, though he managed to jerk him slightly on the way up. "Luna, you get his other side. Dusk, could you scout out a decent path for us to follow?" Under normal circumstances he would have taken R'fel on his own and slung him, carefully, over his shoulder. But with conditions as the were he feared that if he slipped in the mud he could hurt R'fel even more. Carrying him between Luna and himself was not only safer, but less exhausting, even with Dusk's help. "Let's get him, to the stables," he said between breaths. "Hopefully, the Weyrhealer, should be there." (Haha, a weeks worth of stored up muse let loose xD Is cautioningly even a word? :3)
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Post by Dragon Song on Aug 8, 2010 21:38:27 GMT
Dusk watched with a very mild interest as Shea scrawled the note with the pencil she'd brought. Then the hissing gold thing was back, apparently a Dawn. Though every time that Shea said Healer she brightened, ever so slightly, just momentarily. Then she'd slide back into the anxious, mistrusting uncertainty. Just because Shea was helping now didn't mean that she trusted him, and most certainly didn't mean she liked him. No, she still hated him. Well, maybe severely disliked him. The hate had abated that tiny bit because in the end he had kept his word. Even if she had had to snap at him a bit to get him to do so.
With the gold thing vanishing between for whatever reason it had done, possibly on an errand, Dusk tensed as Shea bent to pick R'fel up. She'd meant it that she'd hurt him if he hurt Hers. But with the pair of them supporting R'fel, they were doing much better than she could ever have done at the moment. She merely nodded her head once at Shea when he asked her to scout the way for them. She could do that. She'd done it before when she was leading R'fel to the Weyr after all. She trotted on in the lead, only a few paces ahead, claws sinking into the gound. Sometimes the ground in the puddles was better so she lead through the occasional large puddle. Such a short distance dragged out a long way, and progress was just as painstakingly slow as before. Dusk forever let her mind hover around R'fel's, aware to even the slightest of changes. Sometimes she'd nudge at his conscience a little to see if she could get any response, but she barely got a flicker whenever she did. If she persisted though, maybe it would work.
By the time that they did get R'fel into the stables Dusk was near covered in mud, having slipped once or twice on the ground. And she was shivering. She was trying desperately not to show it but her own muscles would not listen to her and they kept on shivering away. So she stood in a dry corner of the stable complex as they settled R'fel down against the wall, eyes whirling in the slightly shadowed corner she'd chosen. It would be more difficult to see her in this corner. That way, they couldn't see the cold shivers that trembled down her small body, plus whoever it was that was coming was less likely to see her. She didn't want them to react in the same way that Shea had, not when R'fel needed help. They could very likely be the help he needed.
There was a flutter in her mind and she froze, fixating her mind onto it. Had that been R'fel? Yes, she was pretty sure that it had been. Maybe her incessant nagging had worked! There was another stir and Dusk focused all of her will power, which was a lot - especially when you took in the size of her, on it. R'fel! R'fel wake up! she ordered. A spark this time, and she seized it. R'fel, wake up NOW! she snarled at him silently. Outwardly she didn't make a sound. There was a quiet groan from her rider, propped against the wall! Instantly her eyes filled with relieved tones, then shot through with yellow and grey once again. Now she was torn between rushing to him and staying hidden, so as not to startle this new person who was apparently examining her rider.
R'fel's eyes fluttered open, and he blinked once or twice as he tried to focus. It took a little while for him to get back up to speed, his brain still complaining bitterly about having to be alert. The first thing that hit him was of course the pain. Disadvantage of being awake that was. But it didn't take long for the sharp bolts to recede to their previous same strength ache. If he didn't move that was, which really wasn't that much of a problem. Not really planning on moving anywhere. He raised his head partially as he tried to see what was going on, then let it flop back against the wall, gritting his teeth against the reminder from his side that it did not like movement. Images crowded into his mind and the last weeks worth of events were replayed in moments before him. Slipping the riding straps over the steely blue neck, taking off in wing formation, appearing beside the valley, entering the fog... the slaughter. Flashes of tooth a claw, the screaming, crying, snarling, growling... hissing? Yes, and those creatures. Cadoth slipping away between, then vanishing into the black nothingness to leave him there, alone... All thoughts came to an abrupt halt, but he knew there was something else. Something else there... here. Eyes flying open he looked around in what could almost be described as a panic, trying to spot a familiar purple hide in his limited range of vision. There wasn't one. He did spot Shea though, and the familiar face was welcoming. It was something to focus upon. He coughed a bit as he tried to get his voicebox to work, it protesting and causing his side to join in as well. He ignored the pain. Only one thing matter now. "Dusk? Where's Dusk?" he managed to croak out at Shea.
((I don't think it is. And woahhh post! *reins it back* So much for the muses telling me they were dead! ¬_¬))
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Post by Jester on Aug 8, 2010 23:07:44 GMT
Luna struggled not to slip as she followed behind Dusk to the stables. Even though she was not as strong as Shea, she was determined to hold up her share of R'fel's weight. She was glad that she was at least able to stay standing as they made their way into the stables. As they set R'fel down, Luna remembered the cold and mud seeping through her clothes. She waited till a healer came to see to R'fel.
Luna let out a sigh of relief when a healer finally did arrive. She stayed for a second before slipping off to find something to help them all warm up. She really was getting tired of the cold mud she was plastered in and was sure everyone else was as well. Luna walked past a couple of stalls till she came upon a room stocked with things for the runners. She then began to search through the room to find some blankets Shea wouldn't mind them getting a bit muddy. Or very muddy, as Luna looked down at herself.
Luna loaded her arms with blankets and made her way back out the door, though only after she had ran into the wall next to it then adjusted the blankets so she could actually see this time. She trotted back down past the stalls to where everyone was. Luna dropped the blankets at her feet then pulled out one of them and threw it over Shea's shoulders. She then picked another one up and proceeded to wrap herself in it and try to warm up.
Luna looked up at R'fel when he spoke. She was a bit surprised he had woken up so soon but was also glad for it. "Don't worry. Dusk is here and safe." As she finished saying this she began looking around for where Dusk was. Luna even turned around in a circle as she tried to see where Dusk had gone. She finally spotted her in a shadowed corner not too far away. She was only able to find Dusk because she had been looking for her.
Luna bent down and picked up another of the blankets leaving one for them to put over R'fel. She walked straight over to Dusk and flung the blanket over her then knelt down and proceeded to rub Dusk down. While doing this Luna had unintentionally made it that no one could see Dusk, but Dusk could see past Luna to where R'fel was. Luna just kept all her attention on getting the mud off Dusk and warming her up. "I'll have you nice and warm soon Dusk. We probably both hate mud just as much now." Luna smiled as she continued rubbing down Dusk through the blanket.
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