The Adventure

Writers: AmajoS, Jane
Date Posted: 27th April 2007

Characters: Narrala, Ylisahn
Description: Narrala and Ylisahn find each other in the Dining Caverns.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 19 of Turn 4

There was no noise, other than what was all round them from the storm.
Just a creeping up her calves of water that had a heartbeat ago been around her ankles.

Then her feet weren't on the ground and she was struggling in water, knocked off her feet and swimming. Struggling to swim though she kept hitting things - or they were hitting her, she couldn't be sure.

Narrala cursed as cold water surged to her waist, she lifted the basket of meatrolls over her head. She'd been snagged by someone - she wasn't even sure who it had been now - to help get the very last few things from the dining cavern and kitchens upstairs. She'd been headed up along with several other apprentices of the Hall who'd run through the lower levels of the section of Weyr that the Harpers had been for one last sweep to be sure everything had been moved.

She didn't mind helping the Weyr staff and even occasional dragonrider who were hurrying to get the last things out of harm's way, of course.
She did feel a little annoyed that the other Hall apprentices she'd been with had hurried off before they could get snagged as well.
Though she had seen several other apprentices and journeymen from the Hall helping here and there.

Right now though, she sorely wished she'd managed to escape as well.
The lights were out, and they'd been doing their work by glowbasket.
The water had been seeping in through the bags for the last half a candlemark and had gotten to ankle deep a few moments ago. Then suddenly it was knee-deep and now it was edging up on her armpits and she was much too far from the stairway. The little bit of light the glowbaskets provided began to vanish as they were knocked into the water. Just when she decided to let go of the basket of food, another surge hit and water swamped over her head.

Narrala knew how to swim, of course, but she hadn't been ready and hadn't taken a breath. She flailed for a moment before popping out of the water with a choking gasp, just in time for the current to pull outwards and drag her into someone or something. It was pitch black now and in her panic she grabbed ahold of whatever it was, coughing and spluttering to get rid of the sea water she'd swallowed.

"Who?" Ylisahn coughed, having caught hold of somebody which was giving her a moment to catch her breath - or, more accurately, get some of the water out of her lungs. "Are you all right?" she asked, the words being spaced out by coughs. She starting to reach out with one arm to fend off the objects that kept bumping into her. Tables? There had been tables left in the cavern. Could they be _afloat_?

The sound of a familiar voice clamed Narrala enough that she was able to actually breathe a bit. "Ylisahn? Headwoman Ylisahn?" The water receded just enough for her feet to reach the bottom, and with the body - the Headwoman, she was holding onto she steadied a bit. Before she got used to it though, the water surged in again and nearly went over her head a second time.

"Yes, Ylisahn. Can you swim?" Ylisahn thought she knew the voice but her mind wouldn't supply the name - it was busy with other things. She was kicking hard, trying to stay afloat. In the darkness, being pushed around by the water, she had no idea where they were and craned her neck trying to catch sight of anything that would give a clue. "Lighter over there," she murmured to herself, thinking she could see a large area of greyness that must be the entrance to the cavern.

"Yes, I can swim," Narrala answered, letting the grip she had on the Weyr's Headwoman relax. Having someone around who was In Charge made it easier to calm down, which made it easier to tread the debris filled water, in the dark. She looked around for the lighter area she heard Ylisahn mentioned and noticed it right away. "Should we go there?"

"That's the entrance, I think." It was funny how her perspective was skewed. For a moment she thought her feet touched the floor, they she realised they were being pushed along. Away from the entrance, which would make sense.

Ylisahn felt her heart thump painfully in her chest. Pushed toward the back of the dining cavern. Into the only places the water could go -
those long dark corridors. No!

"There. G-glowlight." She tried to drag the other woman around to catch sight of the light, a real light not just the easing of the darkness that indicated the entrance to the huge cavern. "On the stairs." That had to be what it was.

Narrala saw the light, "I see it." She began swimming toward the stairs as best she could while at the same time keeping a loose grip on the older woman -and- dodging floating debris.

Ylisahn kicked hard, if a little wildly at times, but with that and one hand she thought they were making headway against the water - or perhaps the rush was over? Perhaps all those caverns behind the dining cavern, all those corridors were full now?

She could have made better time alone, she knew that, but letting go of another person in the darkness and uncertain water was impossible.

"Help!" she called suddenly, realising that there wouldn't be glows on the stairs if people weren't there to appreciate them. Could she be heard over the wind and the noise from the debris?

Narrala struggled along with the Headwoman and when the older woman began calling for help she paused in her swimming, trying to spot whoever Ylisahn was yelling at. She didn't see anyone, but the glows were much closer now so she resumed the awkward one-armed swimming.
"Is there anyone there?" She asked Ylisahn between breaths.

"Must be." Ylisahn wasn't even sure that they were still making headway against the water that was still swirling around. "Help! In the water!" She coughed out water that got in with her breathing.

And then suddenly there were shouts other than her own. More light, others in the water. Strong hands on her arms, replacing her companion's hold. The Headwoman looked around, making sure that somebody had the other woman, and in the increasing light recognised the bedraggled swimmer. Narrala. The harper apprentice. The Candidate she had seen the day before.

As she felt the man beside her stop swimming and start climbing she willed her legs to help but was glad that it wasn't necessary when he picked her up and deposited her on the stairs above the waterline and turned back to help with Narrala.

Narrala allowed herself to be pulled towards the light and was almost giddy with relief at the sound of other voices. Her feet found the bottom of the stairs and she stood, beginning to climb out of the water. Strong arms soon lifted her up and she caught sight of a brownrider's knots, though she didn't recognize the face. "I can walk," she protested weakly. She didn't really -want- to try to climb out of the water and onto the stairs herself, but she felt like she should at least pretend.

Miraculously, she wasn't hurt aside from a few bruises where debris had collided with her in the water. She was exhausted though and the arms pulling her out of the water were quite welcome. Looking ahead, it seemed the Weyr's Headwoman was unharmed as well, though she knew looks could be deceiving.

"Just let me sit here for a moment," Ylisahn insisted half way up the stairs. "I'm fine. I just want to catch my breath. Narrala? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine too, Headwoman." The brownrider set her down carefully and steadied her when she swayed slightly on exhausted legs. The adrenaline she'd been riding on had faded, leaving her feeling trembly and out of sorts. "Thank you," she smiled shyly at the man.

Looking back at the Dining Cavern, still flooded, though it looked like the water was receding a bit, Narrala was just glad to have survived the adventure.

Last updated on the April 30th 2007

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