Jumbled Hatching

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th March 2019

Characters: K'ale, Loella, R'enh, Lanniya, Karhal
Description: Aftermath for two HAD post hatching
Location: Amber Hills Hold, Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 8 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Saibra

K'ale

Loella wanted to scream she was sobbing so hard she could hardly catch
her breath finally she just grabbed Karhal and screamed one word.
"_Out_"

K'ale, on the other hand, leaped over seats and ran to find where
Imalkyth told him Lanniya had fled from the cavern. Running down the
corridor he practically ran into R'enh coming in the other direction.
"Sorry," he gasped. "Have you seen Lanniya?"

"No sorry," R'enh looked upset and worried. "Have you seen the other
HAD? What's her name Loella?"

K'ale shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. "I don't know
what to do."

R'enh nodded once and grabbed the younger man's arm. "Weyrbowl first,"
he said and started pulling him in that direction. In a matter of
moments, they were outside and there was Anaeryth.

For a moment, Lanniya just stood in numbed, horrified shock the mass
of grieved voices rolling over her and nearly bringing her to her
knees, the dragonet...it had been begging, pleading... As the keening
began, it shook her into awareness and she heard Loella scream. She
whirled and rushed to her. "Lock it down! Lock it down like I showed
you!" But if she couldn't lock away the multitude of dragon voices,
how could Loella? It was too much. Far far too much. "Get her out,
Captain!" The screams that were pressed upon herself and Loella
threatened to break down the very wall of her sanity; she had heard
them before, when River Bluff had collapsed and she couldn't bear it
now! She shook her head, forcing herself to focus on Loella and
getting her away.

His face pale, Karhal scooped Loella up and dashed towards the doors,
holding her tight against him. He didn't care if he shoved people
aside; he used his size to his advantage, only vaguely aware that
that Lanniya trailed in his wake. He pressed Loella's head to his
chest purposefully, hoping the sound of his heart, which had comforted
her during some Threadfalls would do so now. "Where?"

"Anaeryth. We'll get you home and away. She's in the weyrbowl!"
Lanniya panted, not wanting to hear the cries of the confused
hatchlings, nor the grieving of the senior queen, who would not accept
her comfort. **Anaeryth!** Her mental cry was desperate.

}: Calm...calm... Imalkyth and Mnoranth's are here. Calm, Mine. I am
here with you. :{ The comforting voice of her gold did much to soothe
Lanniya's fractured nerves and the gold turned her voice to Loella.
}:Calm. Calm. I am here. We will get you safe. We will take you home.
Listen to me. Focus on me. :{ The gold bobbed her head rhythmically,
her mindvoice taking on the same steady rhythm. }: Focus. Listen. You
are safe. :{ She lowered her head and nudged R'enh and K'ale, each in
turn, then pointedly looked to where the three emerged.

Mnoranth sailed down and settled his bulk next to the young queen. He
wasn't her size but he was a very large bronze. R'enh ran up to them
with Mnoranth telling him what was happening. "Lanniya," he said then
turned to the other two. "Captain, we have to get her out of here and
back home."

K'ale went to his Weyrmate and put an arm around her. "How can I help?"

The horror in Lanniya's eyes remained as the two men approached, and
her face remained drawn and pale. All she wanted was to turn into
K'ale's arms, let him take her away to hold her while she cried. But
one look at R'enh's face and she remembered what he had said when he
had come upon her after the destruction of River Bluff. She couldn't
allow herself to do that. Not yet. "I have to take them home." There
was no way she could control the quaver in her voice. "She needs to
leave, right now. I need straps."

Karhal looked at R'enh, his face tight with barely restrained anger
that was tempered by worry and distress for the woman in his arms. "We
should have never come." He felt the woman in his arms shaking and he
pressed his mouth to her brow. "It's okay, sweet. It's okay. We're
going home."

R'enh put a gentle hand on Lannia's forearm. "I'll take them home
right now," he said to her. "You need to make sure the weyrlings are
getting through this. Saibra is..." there were things he couldn't say
about Saibra in that moment but "Saibra is trying to cope. You can do
this," he smiled. "I know you can, and I'll take care of them."

He turned to the Guard Captain. "Sir, I'd like to help you get your
wife home and safe as quickly as possible."

K'ale stepped up next to Lanniya, "he's right," he said softly. His
fingers reached for her hand.

Lanniya slowly nodded, her fingers blindly finding K'ale's and
gripping them tight. "Okay." The new weyrlings, she could focus on
them. "Thank you, R'enh. Get them home safely." She turned to Karhal
and Loella. "I'm so very sorry." She felt the sting of tears and
quickly blinked them back. **The mask. Kapera mentioned the mask. I
can put on a mask and take care of them. If I cry right now, I'll
never be able to stop. If K'ale hugs me, I'll break down and I can't
do that.** She turned to him, visibly struggling as she tried to
assume more authority that she was accustomed to, straightened her
spine, and centered her focus on the confused hatchlings. ** Anaeryth,
get to the hatchlings. Start calming them so we don't lose any more.**
She kept her grip tight on K'ale's hand, but couldn't afford more
comfort than that. Not yet.

Karhal nodded briefly and made towards the big bronze, keeping Loella
tightly clutched to him. His worry for her overrode any concept of
keeping the appearance of polite civility. All he wanted was to get
his wife home and away. "Help me, Wingleader, if you will. I can't
climb on your dragon and carry her at the same time."

K'ale knew Lanniya was struggling. "I'm staying with you, I'll be
right here," he said softly for her ears only and let her crush his
fingers.

R'enh nodded at the bigger man and climbed up while Mnoranth crouched
as low to the ground as possible. "Hand her up to me Captain then you
can get in place and strap in."

Karhal was very careful as he handed Loella up to the bronzerider,
then quickly followed and strapped himself in only after checking
Loella's straps himself. He wrapped his arms around her, stroking her
hair gently. "We're going home."

Lanniya somberly nodded at K'ale, her whisper of thanks quiet as she
began to walk towards where the newest weyrlings were assembled. Her
grip on K'ale never faltered and it was through that silent strength
that she was able to approach the frightened hatchlings and weyrlings
with a mask of calm and a straight back.

Loella still struggled for control but it was getting easier and she
found she wasn't shaking quite so much but she still clung to Karhal
and turned her ear into his chest. Just having his arms around her
made it easier to bear.

"Hold on folks," R'enh said over his shoulder.

}:We're taking you home:{ Mnoranth's warm baritone assured Loella.
"I'll keep you safe." And then they were in the air. A few moments
later they ducked /between/ and a few breaths later they were back at
Amber Hills and far away from the Weyr.

Loella visibly sagged against Karhal and tears flowed down her face.
**Thank you,** she said as they landed.

Karhal waited until the bronze landed and with quick hands, unstrapped
the buckles around both he and Loella. He wiped her cheeks, kissed her
brow, and silently determined that Loella would never again return to
that place. Without waiting further, he slid down the dragon, landing
with heaviness that jarred his knees. He turned, holding up his hands
to his wife.

"Careful," R'enh cautioned. and stepped down onto Mnoranths foreleg
rather than all the way to the ground. "I'll help," he said and guided
Loella to where she could reach her husband's arms. Then he dropped
down beside the pair. He held back from Loella realizing Karhal was
very protective and he didn't want to give the wrong impression.

He looked at her though and said "if you ever need anything, call
Mnoranth and we will come if it's at all possible."

"Thank you," she said and lifted a hand to touch the warm bronze hide.
She wasn't afraid of this dragon at all for some reason she couldn't
fathom.

"You're welcome ma'am," he said. Then he looked at Karhal with a very
serious expression. "People who can hear all dragons are very special.
What happened today shouldn't have happened. But should you need the
Weyr, just have her call out. We will respond if requested, but we
will not intrude uninvited. You have my word."

"She'd be just as special without it." Karhal was furious past the
point of civility. "And it won't happen again; I'll be shafted if she
ever sets foot in your Weyr again." His lips were thin, his face cool.
"We appreciate your assistance, Bronzerider, but I hope to never have
to call on any of you again."

R'enh's eyebrow rose and his half smile turned cool, "That's Lord
R'enh to you, Captain. While I do understand your ire, what happened
wasn't anyone's fault. The whole Weyr mourns the loss of that green.
Shall I tell the Weyrleaders you no longer wish their protection then?
Would you rather not see us in the sky protecting you?"

Karhal's face hardened to implacable stone. His concern was the impact
on his wife; the entire Weyr was the bronzerider's. "I was speaking as
an individual and as a husband, not as the Guard Captain. Neither
myself nor my wife will call on you or any other weyrfolk. I'll not
have her put in harm's way again. You do your duty to Pern and it's
appreciated by Hold and Hall, including myself. But my duty is to
her."

He turned away from the rider, drawing Loella close to him; he held
her close. "Are you better? "

She turned puzzled eyes on her husband "Why did you talk to him like
that, all he did was help us," she hissed. **I'm very sorry. Please
tell Lord R'enh.**

}:He knows and forgives, your mate is roaring to protect you:{

The corner of her mouth turned up. **Yes he is,** she acknowledged.

Last updated on the April 4th 2019

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Jumbled Hatching