A Dangerous Rescue (2/2)

Writers: Devin, Estelle, Shawna
Date Posted: 17th April 2025
Series: The Perfect Storm

Characters: K'mai, L'keri, J'hael
Description: K'mai, L'keri and J'hael venture into a tunnel in the cave system to rescue a holdless family
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 5 of Turn 12

K'mai

L'keri

L'keri held the shivering child close, sharing what warmth he had.
"Don't be scared, we'll soon have you out of here." Though he still
sounded as calm and upbeat as a man standing knee-deep in freezing
water could be, he'd noticed the rising water level too. How long did
they have before the tunnel filled?

K'mai fought to keep his teeth from chattering as he reached out for
the older child. "Hey there. We're going to go on a little adventure,
okay? It might seem kind of scary, but you're going to be brave,
aren't you?"

The boy glanced uncertainly at his mother, who nodded, tight-lipped. He
took a step towards K'mai, then hesitated, just out of reach. "W-what
about Mama?"

"She'll be just behind you," K'mai assured him, trying not to think
about how fast the water was rising. He glanced up at the woman and
the older man, wondering if they'd be able to get them both out . . .
no, K'mai wasn't going to leave anyone behind.

The child stifled a sob and for a moment, looked as though he might
retreat - but then he stepped forward, reaching out with a cry as he
slipped into the deeper water.

"I've got you." K'mai grabbed him and guided him to the rope. "Here,
hold on to this rope, and we'll swim over to my friend J'hael there.
You're safe with me. I swim like a dolphin. Have you ever seen one of
those?" K'mai kept talking as they made their way across.

"Yeah, I gotcha," J'hael had to actually swim now in the higher water,
but he moved closer to take the child and pass them back to L'keri.
"K'mai, do you need more help over there to get them down?"

"I've got it, just be ready to take her." K'mai said before he swam
quickly back to the shrinking ledge. "Now you, ma'am."

The holdless woman flinched away from the edge of the darkening water
and looked back at the other man. His face was pale and lined with
strain in the glowlight, but he gave her an encouraging nod. Cautiously,
she crouched down by the edge and slid her legs in, gasping at the cold
and the sudden weight as the water soaked her skirts.

L'keri wrapped an arm around the second child and glanced over his
shoulder at the tunnel entrance. The water level was rising rapidly now,
already too deep for the older boy to stand, and he guessed it would be
up to his chest or higher in the deepest parts. He should get the
children out and leave the way clear, but how could he leave without his
fellow riders? He hesitated, then made a decision.

"I'm taking the kids though," he called back. "The rest of you'll be
right behind me?"

"Yes, get them out," K'mai shouted as he guided the woman along the
rope. "He'll keep them safe," he said quietly to the woman.

They reached the shallower area, though it wouldn't be that way for
long. "Take her and go," K'mai told J'hael, meeting the other man's
eyes and willing him not to argue.

J'hael didn't. "Come on," he told the woman encouragingly. Or as
encouragingly as chattering teeth could manage. "Let's get you out of
here. We've got supplies and riders transporting your friends to the
Weyr where you can get warm and dry." He ushered the woman away,
putting an arm around her to keep her facing forward when she tried to
turn back. "Let's just catch up with the kids. They'll be following
behind."

As soon as the other bluerider turned away, K'mai plunged back into
the deeper water, powerful strokes carrying him over to what was left
of the ledge. The older man was perhaps about sixty, his eyes wide
with fear. "I can't swim."

"I know." K'mai reached toward him. "Walk down as far as you can, and
then slip into the water. I'll get you."

It was hard to trust a stranger, but the man knew he didn't have any
choice. If he stayed here, he would drown. If he tried to cross the
water on his own, he would drown. Fear rose with every step as he
moved down the ledge, the water rising to his knees, then his thighs,
and then the lip of rock ended and he forced himself to take that last
step toward the dragonrider.

K'mai grabbed him just before his head went under. "Here, I got you.
Hold on, and I'll help you pull your way across." The rope had been
above the water but was now below it. At the deepest part of the
water, it was submerged too far for them to hold on to without going
underwater. "It's just a few feet, and then it gets shallower again.
Don't panic. Hold on to me and I'll get you across."

The man tried, but when he had nothing but the dragonrider to keep him
from sinking, he started thrashing. K'mai managed to get him over to
where their feet touched rock again, but by then they were both
coughing and panting. When he looked over at the tunnel, K'mai's heart
sank. There wasn't much space between the water and the top of the
tunnel. Would they make it through in time? "We have to hurry!" He
grabbed the man's arm and tugged him along.

K'mai had to duck his head, which left his face mere inches above the
water. The man was shorter, so at least he was able to walk upright.
HIs hash breathing echoed off the rock and K'mai nudged the man in
front of him. "Go, go!" The water kept rising and K'mai had to squat
down and tilt his face up.

Then they reached a spot where the ceiling dipped down, and ahead of
them the tunnel was completely filled. "Oh Faranth we're going to
die," the old man wailed.

K'mai gripped his shoulders. "No. I'm not going to let you drown, I
promise." He shifted around until they were face to face. "Hold tight
to my waist and don't let go." His heart pounded fast. "I'll count to
three. Take a deep, deep breath, and we'll go. One . . . two . . .
three!"

* * *

L'keri splashed out of the tunnel entrance and up onto the shallower
ground of the outer cave, his heart lifting in relief as he saw the
first hints of grey daylight ahead. Both he and the two boys were soaked
through. The water had been up to his shoulders in the lowest part, and
he'd had to take care to keep the children's heads clear. Even now, he
didn't dare set them down, since the water was still ankle deep and
running fast as it poured into the tunnel.

"We're through now. That was the worst part." He peered into the
darkness, his throat tight as he hoped for a glimpse of glowbaskets, or
a vibration in the rope they'd used as a guide. Shards, he hoped his
friends were close behind him.

J'hael had shifted from guiding the woman to half carrying her as he
ushered them quickly through the rising water, numbness making him
clumsy by the time they saw the first hints of daylight ahead. The
moment they caught sight of L'keri and the children, she broke free of
the bluerider to rush forward to gather up the children. J'hael didn't
even try to stop her, turning to look back into the caves as the rain
beat down on his already drenched hair. "K'mai should be right behind
me. Any moment now." He said it with more confidence than he actually
felt.

Outside, Sebeth bellowed in fear. }:K'mai!:{ His rider was scared and
cold and couldn't breathe. The blue tried to shove himself into the
cave but his shoulders were too wide to fit. }:K'mai!:{

The rope shivered.

K'mai burst out of the water at the edge of the tunnel, gasping for
air. "I'm okay . . . I'm okay." He assured both his dragon and
himself. The holdless man was still gripping him tight, his eyes wide
with terror as he coughed up water. "Someone . . . take him."

"K'mai!" L'keri stumbled through the rushing water towards the pair, the
tight constriction of fear for his friend and guilt at having made it
out first easing with a rush of relief. He supported the holdless man,
lifting him up out of the flooded tunnel with a grunt of effort as his
waterlogged clothes weighed him down. "It's all right. You made it,
you're safe."

Now that they were safe, everything was catching up with K'mai and he
struggled to follow L'keri up to the shallower area of the first
cavern. "Let's g-g-get out of this sh-sharding cave." He wanted to lay
down in front of a fire and sleep for a sevenday.

"We've done everything we can," J'hael agreed. "We're no use to anyone
if we freeze. L'keri and I will get this group over to the supply
tent, you should go try to get warm and then we'll follow suit."

"This way. There's tents set up for you to get dry, and the rest of your
family will be there," L'keri reassured the holdless people. "Don't
worry about the dragons, they're friendly." He decided any mention of
going to the Weyr could wait until they'd warmed up and recovered. He
glanced over his shoulder to check that K'mai was okay, then helped the
older man to his feet. "Lean on me, Uncle. We'll soon have you out of here."

Last updated on the April 25th 2025

[Prev: A Dangerous Rescue (1/2)] Series: The Perfect Storm

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Dangerous Rescue (2/2)