Time To Go

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 31st January 2014

Characters: Vell, Eron, Elor, Narona
Description: Thread passes over Stony Field Hold, and Vell makes her escape
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 3 of Turn 7

The warning bells sounded. Thread was in the sky.

Inside the Hold, Vell huddled in the stuffy main hall along with everyone else. Narona was crocheting lace, her hands too shaky during Threadfall to spin. Elor was writing figures on a slate, erasing them with his sleeve, and writing them over again. Her father was giving last moment instructions to the ground crew chiefs, more out of nervousness than because they didn't know their jobs. Over the door, the Hold's only firelizard began to make a horrid, shrill sound.

The Thread was overhead.

Chills ran down Vell's spine. Right now the only thing between her and Thread was fire, stone and dragon wings. Her resolve wavered. If she couldn't get to safety before the next Threadfall, she'd be caught out unprotected and would surely fall victim to Pern's greatest foe. The Threads would eat her flesh from her bones, then eat her bones too, and nothing would be left but the metal of her belt buckle.

"Are you all right, Vell?"

Vell jumped, startled out of her imaginings by her brother's voice. Both he and Narona were looking at her with concern. She summoned up a smile. "Just fine."

"Are you sure? You look pale. Are you getting sick?" Narona asked. She held up her hand. "Let me feel your forehead."

"I'm fine." A rush of warmth caught Vell by surprise, and she impulsively hugged her sister. This would be the last time in sevendays she'd have that privilege, and she suddenly realized that she would miss Narona more than just about anyone at the Beasthold. "Thanks for caring."

Narona hugged her back, but not as tight. "Silly lamb! What's gotten into you?"

"Just thoughts of Thread." Vell reluctantly pulled away. "It's spooky, having it up there."

"Thank the Egg for dragons," Elor muttered. "As much as I hate the tithe, at least it goes to a good cause."

"Eventually. By way of the Lord Holder's pockets!" Narona set her tatting aside. "Do you think it's over yet?"

Elor shrugged. "The bells should ring soon enough. Elpov's firelizard's stopped making that awful noise."

The three of them turned to look at the little green clinging to the door frame. The firelizard's eyes glittered like gems in the dim hall. It spread its wings as the bells rang, signaling that the threat was over and Thread had passed their Holding. Elor sighed. "Back to work."

"Are you going out with the ground crews today?" Vell asked. Elor nodded. "Just to the Low Pastures. Are you?"

Vell nodded, but didn't elaborate. "Be safe, won't you?"

"You as well, little sister." Elor rose, grinned at the pair of them, then strode off.

Narona sighed. "I suppose I'd better go gather herbs for supper. Have fun!" She bopped Vell on the nose with a fingertip, gathered up her tatting basket, and headed toward the kitchens.

Vell watched them go with a lump in her throat. She was leaving. She was leaving _now_, and they didn't know. This would be her first time traveling further than the next Holding over, and it would be at least a week of riding to get to the Sea of Azov. And from there, at least another week to sail to the Harper Hall at Emerald Falls Hold. The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating, and she wished with all her might that she could take her siblings with her.

"Vell! Get moving!? Her father's bellow interrupted her thoughts, and Vell hurriedly leapt off her bench and hurried across the hall. Eron was scowling at her. "You know your route?"

"Yes, father." Vell clasped her hands behind her back and lowered her gaze respectfully. The toes of her father?s boots were scuffed and the edges caked with mud.

"If you find a burrow, mark the location and ride back here as quick as your runner will take you," her father told her. "Time is of the essence."

"I know." Vell smiled. "You won't even know I was gone."

"Very well." There was a small pause, then Eron reached out and cuffed her gently on the shoulder. "Be safe, girl. It's a long ride you've got ahead of you."

Her eyes welled with tears even as her heart began to pound. Did he know? Was he giving her his blessing? Vell nodded mutely, then hurried off to the stables. As she crossed the paved courtyard a green dragon landed near the front doors and her father came out to meet him. The two men spoke quietly together before the green leapt into the sky. A handful of wingstrokes brought the dragon halfway to the clouds, and then they blinked /between/.

Vell glanced at her father, then hurried through the stable doors before she started to cry. She would miss him most of all.

Her runner was already saddled, so all she had to do was slip on a bridle and led the gelding into the courtyard. She untied the leather hat from the saddle, set it on her head, and mounted. The Beasthold felt as though it was wrapping its stone arms around her in one last hug.

This was it. If she didn't leave now, she never would.

Vell turned her runner's nose toward the road and dug her heels into his side. **Goodbye, everyone. I'll be home soon,** she thought. Then she smiled. **And I'll bring Yarron with me.**

Last updated on the February 8th 2014

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