Prodigal Daughter Returns

Writers: Avery, Chelle, Miriah, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 7th July 2016

Characters: Lanniya, K'ran, Lenala, Drumilla, Rhosyn, Y'gel, D'arvn, Solieira, Yendon, Annileri, Pierlin
Description: Lanniya returns a little later than she expected.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 17 of Turn 8

Lanniya

She was exhausted and Anaeryth's every wingbeat caused her dragon
pain. Guilt about that gnawed at her, warring with the happiness that
she had her parents strapped in in front of her. Everything would work
out, she decided. She just had to get them home and Anaeryth needed
rest just as much, if not more, than she did. She lifted her goggles
long enough to rub at her eyes before sending Anaeryth the image. }:
Home. :{ She thought groggily.

She barely heard her mother's gasp as they went /between/, then
nothing as the chill crept in. It took longer than she expected, but
within moments, they were out in bright daylight over River Bluff.
Lanniya sighed in relief, but the relief was short lived. Immediately,
she was inundated with draconic cries, alerts, commands, and
questions.

}: They're back! :{

}: Where have you been?:{

}:She's hurt! Look at how she's flying! :{

}:Come down this instant! :{

It was overwhelming and even Anaeryth was surprised by the onslaught
of outraged, worried and relieved voices that were flung at them.
Dread suddenly coiled in Lanniya's belly. Surely they'd come back at
the right time? Hadn't they?

}:Anaeryth returns,:{ Rogueth said to K'ran as soon as the gold popped
out of /between/. }:She is flying unevenly.:{

**Have Lanniya report to the conference room,** he instructed his
dragon, pushing back from his desk. There would be enough space there
to accommodate everyone who would need to be at the meeting.

}:Yours should report to the conference room immediately, and the
passengers too,:{ Rogueth told Anaeryth in a stern tone.

}:Your pain will be seen to,:{ he added.

Vilarth rose to the air and flew to meet Anaeryth, ready to support her if
she faltered.

}: We were worried about you. Why did you go so far we can't reach
you? :{ Vilarth scolded the younger gold with motherly tone. }:If
something had happened, we wouldn't been able to help you. That was
very dangerous thing to do, little Flame. :{ This was directed to Lanniya.

Lenala ran outside. "Oh, thank Faranth!" The fatalistic calm was now
lifted from her and the relief made her knees so weak she had to sit
down.

With Vilarth's help, Anaeryth landed much more easily than she would
have. The gold slumped down, clearly tired and pained. }: We didn't
mean to be gone that long. :{ She was about to complain of hunger when
Rogueth's words caught up with her. The exhausted queen immediately
snapped back. }: No. Mine needs rest. :{ The normally good-natured
gold now held a hint of the formidable will she would one day mature
in to. }: And I am not a hatchling to be scolded. I am a queen. My
rider is tired and she can't concentrate... :{ Anaeryth felt her
riders distress at being overwhelmed by the voices that she was too
tired to block or filter out. She lifted her head and bugled her upset
to the crowding greens, blues, browns. }: and you will be silent! :{
That will lashed out, not directed at Rogueth or Vilarth, but at those
she felt were too pressing.

}:We will take care of you and your rider, but you will listen now. You
both have done something you should _not_:{ Orlaith was slow moving
due to all the eggs, but the senior queen's tone made it clear she would
brook no argument from her daughter at the moment.

**I'm sorry, Vilarth, Rogueth. I'll explain, I promise.** Lanniya
unstrapped and as Anaeryth settled back, she slid down and caught
herself before she stumbled. She looked around wearily and knew that
she had erred greatly. How long had she been gone? She swallowed and
then slowly reached to try to unstrap her parents.

}: You there, bring Anaeryth a herdbeast, she needs energy! :{
Vilarth commanded a randomly picked out dragon, who obediently
launched towards the feeding pens.

Lenala got back up to her feet, brushed her bottom. Seeing how weary
the girl was, she called out: "Get a healer here!"

It didn't take long until Drumilla came out running with a healer's
bag. "What's going on?" She spotted Lanniya and ran to help her.

Aughashyth obediently pounced a juicy beast and brought it immediately
to the young queen with a croon of encouragement. All the while
summoning his rider. }:She hurts.:{

Y'gel came pelting out of the dragon infirmary. His professional eye
saw at once the gold's wing and he didn't do much more than bow and
murmur a greeting before he was running his hands lightly over the
wing to ascertain the damage. "There there my beauty," he murmured to
her. "We'll get this all fixed up for you. He began to order the area
around Anaeryth cleared. "Get these people back," he ordered his
apprentices. "Then get me some numbweed and redwort."

Once she had heard Lenala's announcement, Rhosyn had made fast tracks
from where she'd been deep inside the Weyr. Relief washed through her, mingled
with worry when the news came that Anaeryth didn't seem to be well. The
Weyrwoman burst out into the Weyr bowl and saw the scene before her. Hurrying
up to Y'gel, she stood beside him, ready to work. "Lenala, you and
Drumilla and the healers see to Lanniya. Get some food in her and get
her into bed. We'll speak with her tomorrow. Get word to her family
that she's here and safe." Lanniya was her wingrider and her
responsibility so Rhosyn would deal with this mess. "Y'gel,
what do we need?" she asked in her professional tone, focusing now on
the young queen and not thinking about anything else.

"Of course, Rhosyn," Lenala said, like she hadn't been doing just that
before Rhosyn arrived. "Come on, let's give Y'gel some room to work,"
she said and helped the passengers.

Drumilla was giving Lanniya an once-over. She seemed unharmed, just
extremely exhausted and stressed, both mentally and physically.
Drumilla handed her a waterskin. "Long trips /between/ can de-hydrate
you, so drink," she told her with healer's authority. "Can you walk? I
doubt you would like to be carried with stretchers."

D'arvn took in all the commotion but in the midst of the storm he saw
Lanniya's grandparents standing stunned looking not a Lanniya and
Anaeryth like everyone else seemed to be doing but directly at her
passengers. His eyes narrowed and he walked up behind Rhosyn. "Who are
they," he pointed slightly at the man and woman looking bewildered and
lost in the bustle.

Lanniya took the water bottle with relief and tipped it back,
swallowing the cool water with evident relief. She was about to answer
Drumilla when I hoarse cry erupted from behind her and she whipped
around.

"My son! My boy!" Yendon and Annileri were seen forcing their way
through the crowd, both of their gazes locked on the blonde man who
was now climbing down from Anaeryth's forelimb. "Peirlin!" The cry was
cracked with pure joy and as soon as Yendon reached him, the older man
clasped the younger in a desperate embrace. Tears leaked down his
weathered face as Yendon unashamedly kissed the younger's cheeks and
brow. "My boy...my boy...my son..."

Annileri bore down soon after, pressing quavering hands against her
son's cheeks. "Oh sweet Faranth..." She too began leaking tears,
stroking Pierlin's hair, his face and shoulders, as if assuring
herself that he was real and solid beneath her hands. Pierlin,
overcome with the emotion his parents were displaying, couldn't help
but tear up as well and wrapped his arms around his mother, holding
her close. He looked over his shoulder at the red haired woman who had
climbed down behind him. Her smile was watery as she approached and
within a scant moment, she found herself grasped by Yendon as well to
be pulled into a tight embrace. Within moments, all four were clasped
together, soothing shaking shoulders and reassuring each other of
their presence.

Through her own tears, Lanniya glanced around to some of the faces
around her. Some knew of her history and she saw some faces, those who
were aware of the possibilities of timing it, suddenly shift with
realization. When she saw the looks on her grandparents' faces,
however, her dread diminished. Despite her exhaustion, her chin lifted
and she stood straight; her posture and body language were clear. 'I
know I'm in trouble,' it stated, 'but I did right and I am not
ashamed.'

Y'gel heard the commotion and looked over his shoulder at the tableau.
Then he turned with an uplifted brow at Rhosyn. "Maybe she needs to
learn what exactly happened to her lifemate." His gaze said he knew
what she'd done and was certain Rhosyn knew as well. He took a big
breath. "Let's see how far this goes." Pointing to the gold's wing
edge. "I'll go this way and you go that way. It's swollen and tender
so be gentle as you can."

"We'll deal with that later," Lenala said to Lanniya. The girl had indeed
broken whole lot of rules. But she had come back alive and that was mattered
right now.

Rhosyn didn't miss a beat as she caught the exchange and the looks on
Lenala's, Y'gel's, and Lanniya's faces. "Oh those are some of
Lanniya's relatives." The Weyrwoman paused before she began to follow
Y'gel's instructions. "D'arvn, I'm sure the headwoman will see that they are
fed and quartered if there's not enough room with her grandparents.
Drumilla-Better take a look at those two as well!"

}:Vilarth, mine says to ask your rider if she can get them all out of
the Bowl very quickly. Too many eyes and ears:{ Orlaith didn't
understand that Rhosyn didn't want the entire Weyr to start pondering
how it might have happened. Timing needed to remain a secret for a
reason-this example proving that point.

As if on cue, Solieira showed up to the scene, drawing close to
Drumilla and their new guests. Used to seeing people show up at the
Weyr, though not necessarily with such a dramatic entrance, she smiled
and promised them baths, clothing, food, and clean beds.

D'arvn nodded at Rhosyn's explanation and began to help get the riding
straps off the young gold so the healers could do their work more easily.

K'ran stood back and watched the way the Weyr sprung into action. The
goldriders had their end in hand and the Healers and Dragonhealer had
jumped into place. He was impressed by how smoothly this event was
being handled. He wanted to speak with Lanniya as soon as possible
about what had happened, but he realized it would be best to make sure
both were well before demanding the answers he desperately wanted.

Last updated on the July 21st 2016

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Prodigal Daughter Returns