Little Bird {PLOT}

[Simile]

Valhauth awoke with a shriek of alarm. Her Chantrea was in pain! She wasn't with her- she had gone out earlier, but she felt it hte moment that she was taken. Then it went dark. She didn't see or hear. Her's was what she called unconcious. {VIARTH! VIARTH! ANCALANATH! MINE HAS BEEN TAKEN! SHE IS HURT! WE MUST FIND HER!} she shouted mentally to them. She was pacing the ledge, her wings spread, her pale gray and yellow hide, her wings spread slightly, her teeth bared. {YOU WILL FIND MINE NOW! SOMEONE STOLE HER!} She glided down to the Weyrbowl, looking around, still feeling hers. The niggling thought. {Her brother! That man!} She hissed angrily.

It was a while later, Chantrea woke to find her hands bowed and her eyes covered.... she was being carried, slung over someone's shoulder. She struggled. "Let me go!"she grunted out, her head spinning.

"Looks like she is awake.... Come on. Let's get her in there somewhere dark. We don't need that dragon to be able to spot her. If she ain't gonna cooporate, you know what we'll have to do." She knew that voice and she breatehd in deeply. She knew these people.

{Valhauth! Valhauth! Please... please... bring someone here.... please... Somewhere.... somewhere near one of their hideouts.... tell the Weyrleader! Please!}

She swallowed, he throat dry. she would bring them here. She knew they would. She knew that the dragoness would tell someone. She swallowed. {Valhauth... please tell them to hurry.}

Her eyes were uncovered then and she gasped. She also felt the cold blade against her cheek, which dug into her flesh and she gasped again. She was looking up into the eyes of her brother. "Hello Chantrea... Seems you'been spreading our information around... And we can't have that... So... we need to know what you have told them.... and... well then we are going ot have to figure out something to do with you. Mom wants you gone. For good." He gently drew the knife along her cheekbone. Chantrea stared at him, not wincing, not moving. It'd hurt more if she did.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar smiled in his sleep, one arm resting on Viarth’s powerful shoulder. Neither of them had been asleep for long, they’d come off of watch duty not even a full hour earlier, and as a consequence, it took several seconds for the import of Valhauth’s message to penetrate Viarth’s sleep-fogged mind. Normally, they would have been up already, arising with the cold grey pre-dawn light, but that was when they hadn’t been forced to stay up from midnight until the first hints of said light for the past seven-day.

—STOLE HER!}

Viarth raised his head, turning to face the WeyrBowl. Valhauth was gliding down, clearly agitated.

{Her brother! That man!}

Viarth lurched upright, leaving K’tar to catch himself, barely, as the sudden motion jarred the young man awake.

Viarth, what-? Who is that guy? K’tar asked, staring at his dragon’s yellow-orange eyes.

Valhauth what has happened, who was stolen? Viarth asked, turning to nudge K’tar with his nose.

“Flight straps, yeah, we need to find something… no someone.” K’tar didn’t realize he was speaking out loud, organizing his emotions and correcting his knowledge based on the bleed-over from Viarth’s agitated mind.

[Simile]

The moonlight hissed at them, her wings flaring angrily. {Will you wherrybrians hurry up! I SAID CHANTREAMINE HAS BEEN STOLEN!} She growled and hissed and pitched a fit. {I WILL TEAR THEM LIMB FROM LIMB! HURRY UP OR I WILL GO SEARCH FOR HER ON MY OWN!}

The young moonlight had anger roiling off of her in waves. She was scared, angry (mostly angry). Then she felt the pain. THey hurt her! They had cut hers! {Hurry up! Hurry up! They hurt her! They cut her! HURRY UP!} She was quite literally throwing a fit, her tail lashing, her head whipping side to side, her wings opening and closing and she was stalking back and forth in agitation. She was not going to sit back and do nothing! That wasn't who she was! She was Valhauth! And Valhauth simply did not do that. Becasue hers wouldn't do that.

Chantrea swallowed and tried to turn away from the blade. Gritted teeth were next to her ear, the flat of the blade pressed against her face. "Why don't I believe you.... That you told them nothing? The Lord Holder has been close by lately and I can't believe that you have nothing to do with that, little sister."

She swallowed, feeling the blade turning slightly, but he didn't cut this time. No, he pulled it away and struck her across the cheek. She refused to cry out.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar staggered around, flight gear in hand, a wall of pure rage cascading over him from Viarth.

Chantrea is taken! Her family has taken her!

K’tar shook his head, trying to clear it. This was impossible! Did not the Weyr have guardians to prevent this sort of thing? Why the Whers in every corner if they couldn’t even keep Chantrea safe?

Valhauth, where? Where did they- Viarth’s thought trailed off as K’tar’s mind supplied the answer.

“Cliffside, it’s the only place close enough!” K’tar knew a brief moment of almost pure dread, when he realized that there was no time to wait, no time to explain, no time even to tell another where they were going.

“Viarth! Crouch and hold still!” K’tar shouted, throwing straps into place even as Viarth crouched as close to the floor as he could, shifting so as to aid the preparations.

Tell Valhauth to follow us! We’re going to Cliffside, use between!

K’tar vaulted onto Viarth’s back, a trick he hadn’t even known he could perform. The next instant, and they were in the air.

A roar split the cold, pre-dawn air. Viarth! Do not-!

Viarth cut across Ancalanath’s voice, ignoring the RR Flame’s anger.

Valhauth, follow to Cliffside. Between emergence location as follows!

The next second, neither K’tar nor Viarth was still over the WeyrBowl.

———
T’karMine Chantrea of Moonlight Valhauth is missing. Kidnapped and in Cliffside. Viarth pursues.

T’kar rolled out of bed. Shardit! Why couldn’t that lunatic wait for backup? he silently demanded, grabbing his riding leathers, jacket, straps. He needed someone to come along, someone good at close quarters combat…

Ancalanath, tell R’le to relay that practice is put off for two hours, and maybe longer.

T’kar slipped out into the hall, closed the door behind him, and started down the hall. Glancing up he saw Star appear over his head, the little Crimson clearly curious about why his was up-and-urgent this early and with no visible crises. T’kar flashed the riding straps over his head in a broad circle, and grinned when Star seized them and vanished once more. Though T’kar couldn’t see him, he knew that the little Crimson was organizing Boot and Shadow, and Ancalanath’s harness would be in place, needing only for him to check it.

He snagged one of the Wherlings, the first he came across, and told the kid to show him where Dalonia was. Completely ignoring the surroundings, T’kar strode over to her.

“You need to come with me. One of the Weyrlings has been kidnapped and stuck in Cliffside, and we’re going to need to get her out.” He paused for a moment, then gave an almost evil grin. “Bring Dalosk, Ancalanath can definitely carry him as well as us, and the kidnappers won’t expect that.”

[Terayne]

Mine, awaken. NOW!

The mental snap had W'ren coming wide awake in a flash, his hand darting to the dagger he always kept close. Old habits died hard, and this one he refused to let die at all. Farwith was up and agitated, and Gera was darting around chittering madly, her silver hide flashing palely in the faint light coming in. "What's happened?" he asked, holding out a hand and whistling sharply, causing the Silver to settle to his arm, although she was still shifting.

One of the younglings has gone missing. Chantrea of Moonlight Valhauth. The Tiger watched his Mine as W'ren swiftly dressed in what he considered battle clothing, tight pants and shirt to avoid entanglement or loose clothing being grabbed. The former Guard then strapped on his blade and grabbed his unstrung Longbow, before pacing out to where Farwith waited. Harness and straps were swiftly secured, and he strapped on an extra pack as well, containing what he termed 'field medicines" herbs and gauze that could be useful if the victim had been injured.

He and the Tiger then went outside, W'ren swiftly mounting and Farwith leaping off his ledge, heading for the WeyrKing. We wish to assist. Mine has skills that could be useful.

[Cait]

Dalonia had Misk in a headlock, one hand shoved in her mouth as she tried to fish a scrub brush out of the back of the Citrine's mouth. It was proving a bit difficult but she was bound and determined for some unknown reason to keep the damned deformed menace alive. A growl from Dalosk ended the young wher's resistance and she finally relented and let Dalonia pluck the drool covered brush from between gums and cheek. Face contorted with disgust, she turned, ready to throw the dripping brush at Misk's worthless drudge handler when a peculiar sight caught her eye. The Weyrleader was striding purposefully towards her, a wide-eyed wherling lingering behind him. "You! Back to your duties. And you!" She tossed the brush at Mindellan's feet before rounding on Misk. "Stop eating weird crap or I'll let you choke!"

Wiping her hand on her trousers, she turned as T'kar spoke, ready and willing to be irritated with whatever came out of his mouth. Though when it finally sunk in she was grabbing her sword and strapping it on before he could even finish. Could no one stay out of trouble in this place? Headwomen getting themselves butchered, queenlings getting ambushed in the kitchens and now a kidnapping? Guarding wasn't going to be enough if they just sat there and waited for the next thing to happen. She'd already told the damn man what she'd neard those two weyrlings talking about; there should've been a damn hunt.

She paused her internal rant and the process of arming herself with several knives when a strange new look crossed the Weyrleader's face. It was a look she'd seen before on her brothers or Barrek though on T'kar it was different. At his words, she opened her mouth to protest then quickly clamped it shut and lifted her chin. Not only was she not about to remind him of her dragon anxiety but there were more important things at stake. When they got this weyrling back, she was going to strangle them. How had the kidnappers even gotten to them in the first place?

"Fine, get us there but then let me do what I need to do. I'm gonna find out how in the name of crackdust they got to a weyrling. I had my crew out on patrols...Beltan, get back here! Do a head count an' get one of the senior guards t' rouse all of the off duty guards. I want at least two on every known entrance and when you're done I want you and your Bronze and Lan his girl in with those weyrlings and no one gets in or out unless it's the weyrlingmaster until we get back. And you," She turned back to T'kar bold as you please, affixing the last knife to her person and swatting at Pest as he tried to latch onto her. "Rouse all of the watch riders you got and post 'em every ten yards on the edge of the weyr and get your woman to gather the other queenriders and have them gather in one easily defended place and you surround them with dragons so no one can get near 'em."

If this was some distraction technique, the second they panicked and scurried about and went on the chase, someone would creep in and they'd lose worse than a weyrling. She didn't know when she'd started to think of herself as part of this cursed weyr or when exactly she'd found herself in a position to bark orders like she was doing but there wasn't time to think on it now. In fact she'd rather not think about anything but the situation at hand or her anxiety over the impending ride might get the better of her and she had to keep Dalosk calm and docile enough for Ancalanath to carry. "Let's go, how much of a lead do they have on us and do we have any idea where they took the brat?"

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’kar glanced down briefly at Misk, then returned his gaze to Dalonia as she started piling weapons onto her person. She didn’t flip out at his suggestion that she ride Ancalanath, along with Dalosk, so that was something, at least.

T’karMine, Farwith and W’ren wish to join the hunt.

Sure thing, Cliffside and wait for the signal. Oh and get the watchriders up. They’re not to follow, just stay here and guar… T’kar’s thoughts trailed off in a mental growl of exasperation as Dalonia told him to do just that. On the other hand, she had a point about the Queenriders.

You are welcome to come. We leave for Cliffside soon.

Tell the watchriders to space out so they cover the whole perimeter of the Weyr. In fact, tell them to get as close together as they can, if they’re close enough for their dragons to touch noses at half extension to the sides, that’s fine with me. Tell them they might want to have flame ready. Tell Archith and Orikaeth to get Rilora and Retny into the combat practice hall; ring the two Queens with riders.

Ancalanath bugled, then relayed the orders. Pretty soon there were riders and dragons moving around everywhere, finding positions with quick cross-confirmations and grabbing sacks of firestone.

Through the whole thing, T’kar was slipping into a small chain-link shirt and buckling on his sword, essentially just monitoring Dalonia’s words for key phrases or words that would require a response from him.

“Lead, not much. They took her to Cliffside,” T’kar answered, spinning on his heel and striding out of the room towards the WeyrBowl. There was not yet really enough light to see by, not until you got really close to something.

“So, we’ll both get on, then you can have Dalosk climb up along Ancalanath’s leg,” T’kar told Dalonia as they entered the Bowl. Ancalanath was already laying down to make Dalosk’s climb a little easier, but T’kar still had to vault up onto Ancalanath’s back. Immediately upon settling he leaned over to give Dalonia a hand.

[Moo]

Cliffside! Rise! Rise! Kidnapping from the Weyr!

Metanath’s bellow echoed over the sound. Word travelled fast, even from the Weyr, and the terrified honks and squeals of the resident firelizards did nothing to allay the urgency of the matter. Discretion was no longer an option, not now that the Weyr’s dragons would soon be arriving. It was better to flush the kidnappers out now than wait. Time was running out, and they had to move fast.

The tide was coming in.

As he flew over the main square and circled over the docks, he saw N’kio running through the hold, already two steps ahead by association. Metanath turned his searching gaze to the ocean. The waves were choppy, the riptides looked strong – it would be all too easy to miss anything in the black water. Particularly in the caves alongside the waterline.

N’kio, I will fly along the wall and see if I can find anything. You will be on the ground until the others arrive. Get the Lord Holder up, get the people up, meet in the square. Make certain they know they are searching everywhere. Anywhere.

He reached Ralt’s home in a matter of moments. Can do. Mind you steer clear of the rocks around Edgecliff. They’re crumbling more and more, and in this light I don’t want any mistakes.

Understood. Coming back around.

He circled over the hold once more. By now, there was a sizeable crowd gathered in the square. He landed in the centre with a thud, heavier from chewing firestone. Arching his neck, he looked down at the tired men and women, all familiar faces – but that didn’t mean much tonight. His eyes spun a wild, bright red. He knew N’kio was priming to speak alongside Ralt, but he couldn’t hold his words back any longer.

Listen! A weyrling has been taken, and she is rumored to be here. The others are coming, but it’s up to us to start the first search.

He bared his teeth with a sharp, sudden growl. Now it’s time to prove your worth! If I find any of you crackskulls not looking, I’ll drown you in your own ship before we deal with those Tunnelsnakes!

It was all show, of course – he knew he couldn’t actually harm the people he was under watch to protect – but it did make them jump, and that was good. They needed to keep their wits about them today.

“Come on, you salty sons of wherries! You heard the dragon! Spread out!” came a voice from in the middle of the gathering, and loud, agreeing cries were the answer.

Satisfied, Metanath took to the skies again as soon as there was space, his large wings creating a sandy gale in his wake. He flew over the water again, this time heading in the direction of the many caves Cliffside also boasted. He growled to himself. The other dragons needed to hurry.

Because if there was one thing he couldn’t abide, it was rule-breakers.

#

L’ras, get up!

He mumbled something under his breath and turned over on his side, decidedly tuning the Brown dragon out of his dreams.

But he had no intention of being ignored. Get up now! Hurry! It’s one of the weyrlings!

WHAT?!

L’ras practically leapt out of bed. Tell me – what’s happened? he asked, his heartbeat elevating with every passing second.

A weyrling has been taken, kidnapped. It’s Chantrea. Valhauth is beside herself. We must act. The rest of the Weyr is already in motion. Scouts have been sent to Cliffside.

Then he hesitated. For a moment, it all seemed too overwhelming – A kidnapping! When did it happen? Where his other weyrlings safe? How did something get past the whers? – it was happening so quickly! But now was the time for action, not delay. He took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. He had to be calm. For them.

All right. Teth, here’s what we’re going to do. Muster the weyrlings and the candidates as quickly as you can, he relayed, lighting a candle to see by. He began to pull on his riding leathers and boots. More protection than regular cloth. They need to be moved to a secure location, one where we can keep an eye on them. I will go to the barracks and see they make it there. Meet me outside.

Dressing fast, L’ras looked around his room for anything else he might require. Weyrling lists, charts, riding gear – Ah! Grabbing the lists, he hurried to the small chest at the foot of his bed and replaced it with a plainly decorated rider’s dagger. Frown lines creased his face as he attached it to his person. He had little need of it before – he hoped he had no need of it now. But it was better to have it and not need it. Locking the chest, and its information inside of it, he hid the key and headed out the door toward the barracks.

Teth launched himself into the air from his weyr as soon as he could, linking the pieces of the overall plan in his mind. Watches around the circumference. Queens protected. Firestone chewed.. Whers prowling. He kept his distance from the larger Kings and the watchriders, not wanting to interfere in their plans, and began to circle down into an off-center spot in the Bowl. A coaxing hum, his attempt at remaining calm, sounded in his throat as he reached out to his charges.

Weyrlings, report to the dining hall at once. Have your dragons gather with the Queens. Do not stop anywhere else, do not talk to anyone else, but most importantly, do not worry. All will be explained once you are gathered together, but not a moment more. Quickly, now!

Securing a spot beside the kitchens, Teth waited for his rider to arrive with betraying, yellow-green eyes. It was hard to stay calm among all this worry. But if L’ras could do it, then so could he.

Candidates – unless you have been further instructed by Master Moraiya, Zojiroth, or the Weyrleaders themselves, you are to go to the dining hall as well.

[Shoki]

Barlow was up and getting ready to go to his apprenticeship. He was going through the Bowl, as he sometimes did, Kit sitting on his shoulder, letting out a purr-like croon. There was a roar, and Barlow looked up and around. A familiar purple dragon disappeared to between. What the…? He looked around and saw R’le, the Cloudrider sitting next to his dragon and looking confused, apparently conversing with his dragon. Barlow started to tiptoe elsewhere. He needed information. Then he spotted T’kar and Dalonia enter the Weyrbowl. He retreated to the side, where he would remain unnoticed. He didn’t like what was going on. A dragon soon imposed his thoughts on him and Barlow frowned. He didn’t like this. Still, he had a choice to make. Kit looked up and around, briefly interested in the variety of dragons moving in an out. Barlow watched her gaze. It was, as far as he saw, going to be really hard to get a hold of a dragon here. So he didn’t have that. All he had was Kit.

Barlow bolted for his room, knowing he had to be quick. If they caught him, there was no way he could help, not even in this little bit. His room was clean, for the moment, and he could easily find anything he needed. Shards and eggshells, he didn’t even know what exactly was happening! He did know this. K’tar was in the middle of it. Not the cause, as far as he could see, but likely something was going wrong. Bandages, salve, knife in a sheath, a hook but no rope. Would it work? He wrapped it all up with the bandaged and had the Pink firelizard hold it for a second before taking out the hook and trying again. That was about the limit. Burn it all. He didn’t even know if K’tar had already thought of these things. He hated not knowing. But it covered the bases. Barlow liked to think that he was the more long seeing between them, but for now, K’tar was the one with the dragon, and he was stuck finding a work around. If he had any idea where the Purple rider was, he’d probably be trying to sneak off at this exact moment. He took a scrap of parchment, wrote a quick “B” on it and stuffed it into the parcel. Then he turned to Kit, holding her nose forward as he spoke.

“Don’t let go. Give to K’tar.” He tried to think of K’tar for her, send her images of him and Viarth. The Pink, so very calm, didn’t move as he did this, just stared at him. “Give to K’tar, then return.” He let go of her and she stretched her wings, and then rose into the air. She vanished in a moment and Barlow breathed out. He hoped that worked. He put his room in order quickly, and slipped back out, holding a book on dragonhealing, falling in with a few candidates stragglers headed toward the kitchen. He wouldn’t say why he had run to his room, but now people could well assume what he had done. Just a little light reading while under lock down. Nothing suspicious about that.

[Terayne]

Mine. Adelia-Mine. Wake up, Mine. The voice slipped into her dreams, along with the sense of her head being ringed, and Adelia, came awake with a small noise of confusion. "Wha-?" Nuzzles from either side reassured her for the time, and she sat up, glancing towards the other side of the weyr they'd been given.

You are to report to the Dining Hall. Teth just gave the order. Frowning, Adelia nodded, not one to disobey her Weyrlingmaster, and rose to her feet, putting on clothing and moving to the outer weyr to her Dream. Scendath was uneasy, unsure of what was going on, and her normal story-telling mind had been replaced with anxiety. "Shhh. It's alright love," she reassured the dragoness, petting her soft nose gently. "He probably just wants to teach us something else. Although he's chosen an odd time to do it for sure." Whuffing softly, the Dream watched as her Mine padded out and down the small set of stairs(They weren't too far off the ground just yet), heading for the Dining Hall.
_______________________________

Farwith rumbled his understanding and waited patiently, his Mine on his shoulders, watching everything going on with intent eyes. His senses were telling him the Weyr was coming alert in a BIG way, and he could see dragons beginning to leave weyrs, Weyrlings headed for the Dining Hall. It was so much like when the Caravan had been attacked when he was young that his blood began to boil dangerously, causing Farwith to shift beneath him.

Easy Mine. The time for attack is not yet here, the Tiger said soothingly, although he too was not pleased with the MoonlightWeyrling being swiped from under their very noses. He could only IMAGINE what Teth and His were going through, having lost one of their charges.

[Cait]

Dalonia clenched her jaw though otherwise she looked as composed as ever as she trotted after the Weyrleader, Dalosk behind her, eyes a whirling mix of anger and excitement, tail lashing dangerously and liable to hit anyone that got too close. Ahead, she could see Ancalanath already on the ground, ready to go and as T'kar easily vaulted himself up onto the dragon's back, she hesitated, narrowing her eyes at the big beast before stepping up on the dragon's leg, grabbing hold of T'kar's hand and pulling herself up. Shifting her weapons for a more comfortable perch she looked down at Dalosk. "Let's go, you know what to do."

The Crimson balked. He'd only ever ridden a dragon once before in his life, as had Dalonia. The wher growled and Dalonia reached out and grabbed hold of his mind and gave a vicious tug. The stubborn brute relented and nimble as you please, climbed up and hunkered down, arching his short neck over Dalonia's shoulder. Neither of them were particularly happy about being on a dragon, much less this particular dragon but running to the Hold would take too long, even if Dalosk was running all out. "Alright, let's go. That Tiger coming with? He better know how to fight."

---

Sunvoiath was jolted awake by the sudden tension that rippled through the Weyr and her rider wasn't far behind as Teth's voice invaded her dreams, dissolving them in quick order. Immediately agitated by both the invasion of her sleep and the general frantic mood that was swamping the night, the Abyss growled.

What is going on? Rekkora, why is everyone so...[/b]

Teth says you are to go to the Queens and I am to go to the Dining Hall... Rekkora rubbed at an eye, not quite awake. Her hair was a mess and her nightgown rumpled. None of this was making any sense. What's more, Teth had said not to worry. Generally when someone said that there was often a very good reason to worry. Immediately, upon the mention of separating, Sunvoiath grew even more agitated and Rekkora rolled out of bed and padded over to the still growing Abyss. Her eyes were a mixture of red, yellow and hints of white appeared and were swallowed by the shifting colors.

I will not leave you. Not after what happened.

Rekkora placed a hand on the riled queen's nose, doing her best to keep a level head. Something was terribly wrong. Moving toward the entrance to her temporary weyr, she saw that there was a flurry of activity. Dragons from her class were dipping into the hatching sands while their riders, in various stages of dress, were jogging towards the dining hall. Full-fledged riders were out in force and she could just make out their forms settling barely a wingspan apart at the edge of the weyr. Yes, there was most certainly something for them to be worrying about.

Picking up on her apprehension, Sunvoiath slipped from her stone couch and moved to stand above her rider, looming like an impressive and rather protective shadow. For once, the thought of looking perfect never crossed the girl's mind as she stepped out of the weyr and started to make her way toward the dining hall only to have her dragon rumble low in her throat and herd her towards the Hatching sands. Frowning, she looked up at the gold-streaked black figure.

What are you doing?

I do not like what is happening, you will stay with me. You will not argue.

Rekkora scowled but knew that the Abyss would likely only cause problems if she tried to impose her will. Besides, she would much rather be with her dragon anyway. Circling around, she scrambled up onto Sunvoiath's neck and leaning forward, wrapped her arms as far as they would go before the young Queen took off. They got just high enough to glide into the hatching cavern and the Abyss set down carefully on the sands before moving closer to Archith, rider still on her back.

Teth, I will not be parted from my rider. She is with me and I am with Archith and the Other.[/b]

---

Saddyris was awoken by the sound of booted feet running down the hallway and Poica creeling in distress. Something had not only her little rainbow riled but the entire weyr as well. Rolling out of bed, she hurled a pillow at her cousin even as she fumbled around for her trousers and boots. When Dyranor didn't rise despite the commotion, she stalked over to his cot and grabbing hold of the matress, flipped him right onto the floor. With a shout, he shot up, eyes and dark hair wild.

"Something's up, put some pants on and grab your bow. NOW!"

Suiathon and Poica were beside themselves though the former seemed far more prepared to go into battle and almost seemed excited when Dyranor pulled on his trousers, boots and left off a tunic in favor of an easier to don leather vest. In a matter of minutes the two were dressed, though just barely, with bows in hand slipped out the door, firelizards swooping ahead of them as they followed after what looked to be a guard.

[Moo]

The sounds of dragons scrambling to their posts had Mosiliath practically vibrating with excitement.

Though he would never admit it to anyone, he was rather glad there was something going on they could help with – something that gave them more purpose. Coming from the early years of flaming Thread to a complete standstill was terrible to deal with, and Flights could only do so much. He did not like that there was a kidnapping, especially a kidnapping of one of the weyrlings, but the noise and motion in the Weyr assured that it would be dealt with swiftly.

How far away could a kidnapper go, anyway? They didn’t have dragons to take them places. They couldn’t run as fast. It would be easy to find them.

Tilting his head in concentration, Mosiliath stopped crunching his firestone as he listened to the commands being sent all across the Weyr. So they were leaving for Cliffsi…Oh! Was that a command for him? He listened harder, and resumed his chewing once he was certain the message was for him.

I have just received word, D’gan. We are to gather the Queens. I was told they must stay while the search is on. Which makes sense. Mosiliath paused, eyes whirling, and then added, The weyrling dragons will be joining us as well.

Grinding the last of the firestone in his teeth, Mosiliath bent lower as his rider ran around him, adjusting the riding straps a final time. They weren’t quite up to the speed they once were when Thread fell, but it was close enough.

Without further ado, D’gan climbed up into the saddle and patted the large Tiger. “Come on, let’s go! We’re wasting time!” Truth be told, he was just as excited as Mosiliath – though he would never admit it, either. It wasn’t the sort of thing you would bring up in conversation, anyway.

With an excited shiver, Mosiliath took off to the skies from their weyr, full of firestone and flame alike. He took a quick look around the Bowl to determine the best course of action, flying out of the way of the watchriders as they took their places. He noticed Ancalanath first by his flashy hide – T’kar was setting out to go to Cliffside, no doubt. Then there was the dark Tiger, who seemed to be getting preparing as well. The Kings were out…but where were…Ah! The Sands.

He landed nearby, let his rider dismount, and both walked over to where they were all gathered.

Queen Archith, Queen Orikaeth, and young Queen Sunvoiath, you are to remain in the Sands while the search is on. The dragons of the others will be joining you momentarily.

#

It was a quiet, whimpering sound that Riona woke up to. Blinking back sleep, she peered over at the Black-Blue dragon next to her.

“Wha—why’re you making that sound?” she yawned, though as she was becoming more awake she was becoming more aware as well. She could hear the sounds of dragons roaring and bugling out in the Weyr, though the noise was muffled inside the barracks.

He sat up on his stone couch, his tail twitching nervously near his blue foot. The weyrlings…You have been called, you must go to the dining hall….but, RionaMine, something is…amiss.

He had her full attention now. Sitting up in her bed, Riona swung her legs over the side and pulled her boots closer. “That doesn’t make any sense. What do you mean?”

Sotrileth sat upright with his wings pulled in tight against his body, making him appear smaller than normal. The Weyrling Master has called the weyrlings, though I do not know why. But I have listened, and listened, and something is not right. Even though Teth says it is. The other dragons seem nervous, so you better go. Stick with the group.

Shrugging on a jacket, Riona ran a hand through her short hair and walked over to her dragon’s side, placing a hand on his shoulder. She frowned as she noticed his eyes were spinning an unbalanced blue-yellow. “Wait, where will you be? Aren’t you coming with me?”

The Black-Blue shook his head. I was told we were to be with the Queens, but in a moment. We will all be in a group. It will be okay there, I think. He nudged his rider’s side. Go, now. Listen to the adults, they’ll know what to do. We can still talk separated. Let me know what’s going on, okay?

Riona nodded quickly and tried to push down her own rising panic. Sotrileth was just overreacting, that was all. It had to be.

“Okay. Yeah, I’ll umm…I’ll go. See you later, then. I’ll tell you what I find.” With that, she left her room and headed for the dining hall, only slightly relieved when she passed the Weyrling Master. Though he was smiling and appeared as calm as normal, even without Sotrileth she could tell something was up.

Riona looked around for a friend to talk with along the way.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Mobrey sat bolt upright, alarms and the occasional draconic roar echoing around him. Shaking his head, he leaned out the door to the Candidate’s Barracks. There were people rushing about in various directions, guards and Wherlings heading towards the perimeter, the main entrances, and several internal stations, and Weyrlings and other Candidates heading in the general direction of the kitchens and dining hall.

One of the guards turned and saw him looking. “You, Candidate! Go to the dining hall!” the man barked.

Nodding, Mobrey stepped out the door and whistled for Karatos to follow. The dining hall was already filling up with Candidates and Weyrlings, mostly just gathered towards the middle, though one or two bolder individuals were closer to the perimeter of the room. He looked around, but he didn’t see Saddyris and Dyranor anywhere.

————
No sooner had Viarth landed at the outskirts of Cliffside and K’tar started to slide down than a Pink firelizard appeared in front of him.

“Kit?” K’tar asked, starting to reach out. The flitt looked like Barlow’s Pink, and was carrying a bundle.

[Shoki]

Kit observed K’tar and looked at Viarth for one moment before depositing the bundle in his hands. The moment she did so she dropped to the ground and stretched out. Too much work carrying things. However, she had done a good job. Yes she had. She waltzed over to K’tar, as he likely had to work a little to get the bundle open, and rubbed her head along his leg, crooning again. Almost as though she was trying to rub off the feeling of going /between/. Kit much preferred to be in normal space and on the ground. She rubbed against his leg once more before the rest of her objective was required. Eh, she supposed she really should pay attention to her feeder. Stretching out on last time she took off, vanishing quickly. It was hard to deny, even without the note in the package, who exactly had arranged this.

Barlow was sitting down in the kitchens now, looking calm compared to some of his fellow candidates. He had a book on the table and a small snack. From nowhere, Kit appeared, and landed on the table, before coming forward to stare at him. She sat straight and her tail twitched back and forth. No package. The candidate pushed the plate with food on it toward the Pink flitter, who merely observed it until Barlow went back to reading. Once his attention was diverted she started eating, rather greedily, ignoring the eyes that snuck over the pages of the book. It looked like she’d done her job. All he could do now was hope it helped. He flipped the page of his book, giving himself something to do while he waited for things to resolve themselves. Someday he’d be able to do more. So for the time being he was patient.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar scrabbled with the knots holding the bandage together, wasting a handful of precious moments before he finally got it open. He was muttering swearwords the whole time. Did these people know nothing? The worst thing, the single worst thing in any hostage situation was to let the sharded kidnappers know you were coming! You went in stealthy, then came at them and got the person back. Certainly, you didn’t have dragons bellowing while people raced to assemble in the square.

Don’t they realize that all of this would just allow alert kidnappers to slip out and take the captive with them?

He stared at the contents of the bundle. It was made of bandages, and there in the center was a container of salve and a decent-sized knife. Fortunately, he’d gone to sleep in his old clothes, which had several pouches and interior pockets added.

Viarth, does Valhauth know where Chantrea is? he asked, slipping the salve into a small leather pouch on his belt and tucking the knife the breast of his shirt. He could visualize the map that Lord Famoran had sent, complete with the mark indicating where Chantrea's family had their hide-out, but that was on into town a ways, and if they hadn't gone there, he might have to do a lot of back-tracking to find her. He wanted to be certain that that was where they were at.

Viarth blinked slowly, then turned his head to look at Valhauth.

Valhauth-friend, can you know-location-sense ChantreaYours?