Hurricane: Desperate Flood (5) (Part 2/4)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Devin, Clancey, Emma, Jane, Kaysea, Paula, Roxanne, Vix
Date Posted: 25th May 2007
Characters: I'lan, D'ren, J'darin, Br'nick, C'lor
Description: The Hatching Grounds begin to flood requiring drastic measures.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr, Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 19 of Turn 4
Notes: Notes: My sincere and heartfelt thank you to all the writers who
helped with this story. It's quite frankly one of the best posts I've
ever been privileged to be a part of here at Triad.
Notes2: This is the LAST of the Control posts for the Hurricane.
Please post away!! I Hope there are tons of posting just waiting on
this! HAPPY STORM WRITING!
Notes3: This is broken into 4 parts, but its all 1 post. I have
noted the rider who is in the section above their section.
- D'veck -
D'veck listened to J'darin's explanation of the expectations for him and the others, his mind open to Gannoth, knowing that the bronze had heard and processed the information with him. As the Weyrleader finished, the young bronzerider glanced toward the exit from the Hatching Grounds, remembering the rising waters within the Weyr and picturing that dark and wet fury penetrating the Sands. **Hurry!** He instructed his lifemate.
}:I come.:{ Gannoth appeared through the wide entranceway, his rider's jacket and goggles attached to the riding straps. D'veck nodded slightly, silently thanking the Weyrlingmaster who had taught him to think ahead and to be prepared for any eventuality. The bronzerider glanced around at the eggs, thinking about their softness - only two days on the Sands! - and the cold of /between/.
}:We must hurry!:{ Gannoth's message conveyed the bronze's own worry, wanting to serve both queen and the new life within the eggs.
**We must hurry but arrive safely.** D'veck considered the other items attached to the dragon's riding harness, noting particularly extra leather straps that had been used to secure passengers to areas of the Weyr needing help, some long woven sacks, and a blanket. **I'll make a sling of the blanket and use the sacks to keep the eggs warm.**
}:You cannot put the eggs in those!:{ "No." D'veck said aloud, scaling the dragon's side to get the sacks.
"But I can wrap these sacks around the eggs and then place them in the sling."
Both dragon and rider visualized how this could be done. }:The sling first.:{ D'veck slid to the sands with the equipment that he had removed from the harness and approached Gannoth's forelegs, fitting a strap around one end of the blanket.
}:Higher,:{ the bronze instructed, indicating a place just below the elbow joint of his foreleg, as the rider started toward him to fasten the blanket in place.
**Won't that restrict you?**
}:It will allow me to lower the sling with more stability.:{ Trusting his dragon's guidance, D'veck fastened the straps holding each end of the blanket to Gannoth's legs. "It'll be a tight fit."
}:The two eggs will cushion each other.:{ Now came the difficult part. D'veck took one of the sacks and approached the eggs, eyes on Nyith.
}:Mine wishes to help,:{ Gannoth addressed the gold.
Trusting that the bronze would work out any problems, D'veck spread the long woven sack past the width of the egg, gently lowering it to make contact. With one end on the ground, he placed his hands on the sack where it rested on the egg and rolled the egg wrap it within the sack, hoping that Nyith took no offense. With the egg centered on the sack, it was surrounded with some to spare. D'veck walked to the other side of the egg, feeling the gold watching from behind him, and when Gannoth had edged forward with the blanket touching the ground, hoisted the edges of the sack to place it on the blanket. With the edges tucked around the first egg, he grabbed another sack and repeated the procedure with a second egg, though the challenge was to fit it next to the other. A third sack was tucked over and around both eggs.
"How's that?"
Gannoth rose up slightly, moving one foreleg apart from the other to raise the blanket from the ground. When it swung between his front legs, he paused. }:It will do.:{ D'veck rushed to the dragon's side, gripped the harness and pulled himself onto Gannoth's back.
}:Hurry!:{
**Give me a minute - my jacket. . . and the straps.**
Around them several dragons had already departed.
}:Let's go!:{ D'veck took a deep breath, calming his emotions. **Do you have the visualization?**
A slight pause. }:We go now.:{ Gannoth stepped forward, forward, up -
and all was blackness and cold. D'veck counted to himself, silently, and then they were there, light and warmth and sandy-floored cavern.
But no other eggs.
}:They say we were quick. They just gave permission to bring the eggs.:{ "Oh." As he slid to the ground, D'veck thought that through. **We need to be careful going back and arrive after we left.** He ran to the front of his dragon, tugging off the extra sack and then moving the first egg to the Sands. Gently, he pulled up on one end of the sack to roll the egg to the sand, then turned and did the same with the other.
**Will they be alright?**
The bronze stared at the eggs as his rider ran to his side with sacks still in hand. }:Better here than in water.:{
**Be careful,** D'veck reminded as he re-buckled his straps. **There are eggs missing from the Sands when we return. Remember that.** Again the dragon stepped, rose and jumped /between/.
Upon their return to the Hatching Grounds at Dolphin Cove Weyr, the pair found fewer eggs, but still far too many remaining. D'veck checked the sling, assuring himself and Gannoth that the ends of the blanket were holding securely.
It was easier this time to prepare the eggs for travel, and yet more difficult to place them on the sling.
}:What is wrong?:{asked Gannoth, eyes tinged yellow with alarm.
**Nothing - just sore muscles.** The bronzerider lifted the second egg of this load onto the sling and concentrated on tucking the sacks around it and the other atop the blanket. **Alright, let's get ready.** As D'veck mounted the bronze's back, he gave his instructions. **Not so early this time, but be sure you have the image set.**
Gannoth gave no answer except to step forward as the rider finished fastening his riding straps.
When they arrived in the other cavern this time, other eggs rested on the Sands and D'veck was unable to distinguish which they had brought on their last trip. Around them, familiar bronzeriders unloaded, popped out of sight, or popped back in.
}:There are still more to bring,:{announced Gannoth as D'veck turned to remount after releasing the eggs of the current load.
The bronzerider sighed and fixed the image of his home Weyr. **Get us there in time to get more but not while we're still there.**
**We might make it.** D'veck noted that few eggs remained on Dolphin Cove's Sands, but that the air had a damp feeling. **Quickly.** He selected two more eggs, the movements and testing of the apparatus they had constructed for transport now more by rote than thought.
**Stop and take a deep breath,** instructed the bronzerider before their take-off. He glanced around the familiar cave wondering how it would look when next he entered it, then gave the command for Gannoth to go.
Last updated on the May 25th 2007