Weyrling Survivor (5/6)

Writers: Aaron, Corrin, Duskdog, Halyonix, Heather, Iluva, Sia, Steel
Date Posted: 13th May 2025

Characters: K'yne, Rh'din, Katora, Z'renh, A'ris, Sanvi, C'uren, Sybana, Nosarre, M'rhas, E'kirim, Zaphare
Description: The final challenge of the DFW Survivor game - the ropes course!
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 22 of Turn 12

K'yne

“Congratulations, Threadnoughts!” K’yne said as they finished up the
second round. Daddies’ Favorites had completely fallen apart when it
came to the reading of the threadfall map and relaying instructions.
Skyguard had done reasonably well and finished only a hair behind the
Threadnoughts.

“Now, your last challenge,” K’yne said, ‘revealing’ the ropes course
as if it hadn’t been looming over them all morning. “All members of
your team must make it through the course. We will time each time. The
team with the fastest time wins!”

“Skyguard, you’re up first!”

Rh'din sighed gustily, shaking out his arms and eying said ropes
course. “... don't fall.” He quipped.

“You’ve got this,” Katora told him with absolute confidence in her
fellow Trader.

This was going to be a piece of cake. Z’renh would just have to show
everyone how it was done. He climbed up and launched himself into the
course. And for a few glorious moments, it almost looked like he would
ace the whole thing. But only for a few. He slipped and fell end over
end into the nets below.

“Ow.” Well. At least falling was not the worst thing that had ever
happened to him.

A’ris winced at the fall. The bundle of nerves in his stomach grew
tighter. If a _bronzerider’s son_ fell… What shot did _he_ have?

“Come on!” Katora called encouragingly. She was methodically making
her way up the ropes, keeping an eye on Rh’din as she climbed.

It had looked like an unpleasant fall. Sanvi eyed the drop nervously
as she followed after Katora with sweaty palms. By halfway through the
course her forearms were screaming at her and her fingers were
cramping. **I’m not sure I can do this…**

L’kayric took it at a steady pace, taking care with each step and
handhold. He certainly wasn’t making it look easy, but he was doing
okay and felt like he should be fine if he just didn’t get too
impatient.

“It’s okay,” he told Sanvi, who had begun to look like she was
struggling a little. “You can do it! Loop your arms up under a rope
and hold yourself that way for a few moments if you need a break from
gripping. I’m right behind you, I can help if you need.”

He wasn’t yet sure _how_ he could help, but he’d find a way.

“Let’s go, my friends!” C’uren exclaimed. He was ready to hit the
ropes! It was just like rigging on a ship to him and he had missed
running along it. Barely waiting for his team, he threw himself into
the climb.

Sybana had actually been _good_ at Threadfall charts, but they were
back to physical activities again and she was not feeling optimistic
about their chances even as the seacrafter went swinging up the
course. “This doesn’t look safe at all.”

"Galgaith is going to be taller than this course." Nosarre said
dismissively as she double checked her harness and began the first
climb up. "And you'll need to carry one of those flamethrower tanks to
boot. This stupid thing is just the beginning."

That comment gave Sybana some pause. Of course she had seen Tabanirth
and Chioneth, though mostly from a distance. Galgi was growing like a
weed, but still only about as tall as a large draftbeast. She would
certainly get taller, but… “I’m just saying-- this looks more like a
Weaver’s nightmare than a Weyrling lesson.”

Still, it _was_ a lesson--and Nosarre had a point--so despite her
misgivings Sybana tentatively started to climb.

“Up, up, we go!” C’uren called in encouragement. He was halfway to the top.

For once M'rhas was with C'uren, scrambling up with the same frantic
bursts of energy he’d lobbed sacks of firestone and desperate to taste
another win. The only problem - if there _had_ to be one - was that
although he remembered scaling his father’s bronze with the same ease
each time, his muscles had long ago reached their limits. His grip
wasn’t as tight with all the sweat, and as he shot sideways to another
handhold, his aim was way off. “Sorry!” He called to whoever’s hand or
head he nearly hit, hauling himself almost in slow motion now.

If everyone didn't know that reading and books weren't E'kirim's
strong suit, they at least knew now. But he could, theoretically,
handle this. He flew on Remiath before, and J'ler used to take him on
Maishoth. He'd been that high before, and he would have to get used to
it with Norrianth. He could do this.

"All right, friends and grump." He said to everyone with a stupid grin
at S'yen. S’yren rolled his eyes at the term. "We can win back what we
lost- or at least do better than Threadnoughts."

“Good luck with that,” S’yen muttered but he was moving towards the
course to begin.

Zaphare had never attempted anything like this before. Where would
she? It’s not like her hold had random rope towers! Maybe all that
firestone tossing would come in handy, at least, because surely her
arms were strong by now?

As it turned out, they were not. Or at least not strong enough for her
to scurry through the course like a rat. She fell a quarter of the way
through and cursed the entire way back to the beginning.

“When we’re done,” she pouted to the Weyrlingmasters on her way by,
“You better let us see _you_ do it. Just don’t break your old man
hips.”

K’yne cocked an eyebrow at the challenge.

Last updated on the May 19th 2025

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Weyrling Survivor (5/6)