Dragonrider Hero

Writers: Cali, Emma
Date Posted: 9th June 2008

Characters: I'lan, Sorsha
Description: Sorsha falls on the rocks and I'lan plays hero
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 5 of Turn 4

Harding slick rocks. Sorsha was not the type to throw out curse words, but at this moment, as she hobbled along the beach towards her father's hold, she was reevaluating that mentality. The morning had started off right enough. She had left Green Bend Hold after breakfast and headed off down the beach to check her newly made traps she'd set a few beaches down. She knew it was Threadfall day, but that wasn't until after eleven, and she'd be back in plenty of time, plus her catch would be a good addition to the stew her mother was making for the ground crews after they made checks.

She had reached the rocky outcropping she had laid the traps in, nicely secured between the large rocks where they wouldn't be bashed and shattered and where the fish would go to nick the smallest animals for a tasty meal. The traps had been a project her and her father had made together, and she was quite proud of them. She had found success in two of the three traps and strung them up on a line as she reset them and placed them back in the water.

Then she had fallen. The water had been cool but in no way chilly when she hit, but she knew her knee had been injured as soon as she had tried to climb back up. She eventually had able to scramble back to her catch, but it took her another half hour to hobble off the rocks.

Hence her reevaluation of cursing. She knew she was running out of time to get to the hold before Threadfall, but she could only go a few feet at a time before she had to stop. Each step was worse than the one before and she couldn't help the tears that streamed down her face.
She was hoping someone would come to her rescue on a runner, but as the sun rose higher in the sky, she despaired that no one had even noticed her absence with all the preparation.

}:Down there,:{ Naath told his rider. Even though there was fall due, some one still had to fly a sweep to make sure that all the holds knew and were prepared for it, and today that duty had fallen to I'lan and Naath. }:I see someone out down there.:{
**Shards, don't they know fall is coming?** I'lan cursed mentally,
**Naath, we better go down there and check on them, nobody wants or needs to be out during fall.** The bronze turned neatly, diving down towards the ground.

As she saw the dragon in the sky Sorsha stood on her good leg and threw her hand up into the air waving frantically, "Help! Help! Down here!"

"I can see you," called I'lan, not sure if she could hear him or not, so he waved as well. "Wait there, we'll only be a moment."

She sighed in relief and exhaustion when she saw him come in for a landing. He was better than any runner, but she was a bit embarrassed that a rescue was needed at all. "Thank you for stopping." She said as he approached, "I injured my knee and was trying to make it back to Green Bend."

"Do you want me to take you back there?" he asked as he slipped down from his seat. Wherever he took her, she'd need help to get aboard his bronze, and he was not going to leave her out here.

"If it's not too much of an inconvenience, it would be appreciated."
Sorsha said politely. She figured she looked horrendous, wet and sandy, face all blotchy from crying, she was surprised he had run away screaming once he got a look at her.

His straps weren't rigged for a passenger, but it was only a short trip, and if she was able to hold on tight. It wouldn't need a flight /between/ to get there, although he'd need it to get back to the Weyr. "I can do that, you'll have to hang on tight though, and I'll help you up on to Naath."

Sorsha nodded, "I'm not afraid, I was Searched before." She took a hobbled step and then looked down at the string of fish she had fought so hard to keep in her hand. "Would your dragon like these as a thank you for the ride? I probably shouldn't take them or else the oil will get into your leathers and you'll stink all day."

"We," began I'lan before Naath interrupted him.

}:A snack won't hurt,:{ the bronze told him.

"I was about to say that we don't need them as a thank you, but Naath says he is hungry." Fish wasn't the dragon's favorite snack, but he would eat it if it was there.

Even though she knew he wouldn't try to bite her, she couldn't help but be nervous as she slid the fish off the line into the large bronze's open mouth. "There you go, Naath, I hope they're tasty. I'll need help up, I can't put alot of weight on this leg." she added looking up to where she would need to sit.

The dragon swallowed them in one bite, }:Tell her thank you,:{ he said to his rider.

"Naath thanks you," passed on I'lan. "He's going to make a step of his leg in a moment, and I'll help you onto it, and then I'll give you a boost onto his neck and get on behind you."

Sorsha was glad she had worn pants that morning even though it was hot, if she'd been wearing her normal skirt, her propriety would never have lived down the boost to her rump he gave her as she tried to scramble up the bronze's leg. She finally made it up on his back and tried to settle herself as the rider sat down behind her. "Sorry if I get you wet, I haven't quite dried out yet."

"It's okay, we're not going to go /between/. Do you have a belt on?" he asked. If she did, he might be able to secure her with that.

"Um, yeah." she answered, confused by the odd question.

"I'm going to loop a strap from my riding belt to your belt," he explained. "My straps aren't rigged for passengers, but this will help make sure you're safe for the short flight."

Sorsha nodded as she watched him do it. If she hadn't been soaked and in pain, she might have felt a bit embarrassed by having a man's hands on her waist, but as it was, she was just glad for the security and looking forward to getting back home. "Ready?"

"We are now," and with a silent signal, the bronze rose into the air, wings beating to gain height, then a turn to head them towards Green Bend. "It's only two to three minutes from here," I'lan said after a moment, leaning forward so he could put his lips close to her ear so he was sure she could hear him.

She couldn't help but blush at his closeness this time, and was glad that he couldn't see her face. She nodded and was content to enjoy the view as she saw the hold swiftly approaching. She pointed to the open space dragons usually landed on and waved her arms to the group below.

}:She wants us to land there,:{ Naath told his rider.

**Do it then,** came the reply as they began to drop closer to the ground.

"Father!" I'm okay, I fell on the rocks and couldn't walk home."
Sorsha tried to explain as her father rushed up to the bronze after they had landed.

"I'm terribly sorry you had to be inconvenienced bronzerider." her father apologized profusely after assuring himself that his daughter appeared unharmed.

"It's no problem at all Sir." assured I'lan. "Naath and I were happy to help," he said as he hastily undid the makeshift straps. "I hope your daughter recovers from her fall soon."

Hands were waiting to help as Sorsha slid down off the bronze's back.
"Thank you for the lift." she called to I'lan as she leaned against her father's side. "And thank you Naath!" she added and waved to the big bronze.

"And maybe we'll see you back at the weyr next time there are eggs on the sands," said I'lan with a friendly wave. "You take care of yourself."

"You too. Fly Safe!" she added as the dragon launched into the air. As she watched him blink /between/ she had a sad realization that she didn't even know her dragonrider hero's name.

Last updated on the June 15th 2008

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