Little Bird {PLOT}

[Simile]

Vlahauth was not long in following Viarth. She would find hers and she would destroy thoe who ahd taken her. She growled and rumbled and roared, lashing her tail about, even in the air and even as she landed. She hissed at everyone around, her eyes whriling hues of red, oragne and yellow. {MINE! MY CHANTREA! WHERE ARE YOU!?} she wailed in desperation. She hissed and lashed out. She turned around whipping her head this way and that.

Chantrea cried out as her cheek was struck again. She tried to take in what she could, the sounds, the scents, the images, and shoved them at Valhauth who pushed them at the other dragons. {There! Somewhere! The outskirts. Her family. Where they hide here. It smells funny - like... like... burnt things and it is hot... and the sounds... there is much sound.} She tried ot describe it to them.

This was the point at which Zigfried showed up, Amp not with him. He started showing more images to them, more specific. It pinpointed exactly wher she was. He was chattering and insistent that they come right now. Immediately. There was no time to waste.

Chantrea cried out again, the point of a knife cutting a line across her cheek, not deep... but it still hurt and the pain was a bit of a shock - her eyes were now covered.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Viarth tossed his head.

K’tarMine, Chantrea-family has Chantrea at known-location-compromised-hideout.

No sooner had Viarth finished his words, then Zigfried showed up and threw images at them.

K’tar shook his head, trying to clear it. This was bad. Very bad. From Zigfried’s images, as well as plain common sense, it was clear that the approaches on the first floor were guarded, and the building’s position on the outskirts meant that there were no other houses close enough to it for an amateur (at least for a young man from Stormy Plains) roof-walker to use as a bridge to a window. On the other hand…

“Follow me,” he breathed, dodging to a long row of relatively tall and wide buildings. They didn’t quite make it all the way to the hide out, but they came close, and the shadow from the last one stretched in the right direction.

Viarth crouched as low as possible. Royal Purple wasn’t the easiest thing to hide, and the dragon was glad that it was still dark out here.

As they neared the building, K’tar scanned the area. It didn’t look like there was anyone who could see them.

Viarth, I need a ladder. Come to the edge of the shadow, and YES! the last was as Viarth stretched his neck out, creating a ramp that led to the only second-story window in the hideout. Neither of them noticed the silent arrival of two huge dragons, both Kings, as K’tar slipped the window lock and slid into the second story of the hideout.

————
Farwith, we land in the outskirts field.

“Landing now,” T’kar said, as Ancalanath began to backwing.

[Terayne]

The Tiger rumbled softly as he followed his WeyrKing down, waiting until he'd settled before doing the same, settling as lightly as possible. He then crouched down, his dark coloring blending into the night quite well, and his rider looked to T'kar, even as he slid down and crouched beside his dragon, staring in the direction he was fairly certain they'd be going. It was pretty much the only building here, after all, and he sensed Farwith looking around them, searching for some sign of the two younger dragons who had come here.

See them love? A low growl was Farwith's only reply, and W'ren sighed, examining the hiding place. He then looked to T'kar once more, waiting for the Flamerider and CrimsonHandler-he HAD indeed seen her and her beast-to decide what they thought they should do.

[Simile]

Chantrea didn't know where they were, she just knew that Valhauth wanted to go with them, but she kept trying to push the dragon to stay back. She couldn't bare it if someting happened ot her....and it would be bad enough if they both perished because of this without having to alert her family of the fact the others were outside. She suddenly felt the prick of a knife against her cheek and muffled her exclamation by biting her lips.

She looked up at her brother defiantly. "Seems that punishment just isn't enough for you, is it?! And we can't have that little moonlight of yours blabbing everything you know about..." She felt it before she even registered the movement. The knife sliced across her stomach and she cried out at hte top of her voice.

He didn't even care what she knew... not anymore. She didn't know as much as they thought she did. She wasn't in the loop anymore. she wasn't one of them. "Just stop! I don't know anything else! Please!" it was a fierce whisper broken by pain as she wrapped an arm around the bleeding cut on herstomach. SHe could hear Amp from where he was in the cage her brother had shoved him into when he had triedto defend her. His wing looked like ti was broken... Her poor baby...

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

The scream did it. Yes, K’tar had had a plan. Sort of. Now, the only “plan” was to get to them before they could cause another scream like that. Before they could do more damage.

Drawing his knife, K’tar raced across the room, taking the stairs down as fast as he could. There, in front of him, was Chantrea, bound. She was facing him, there was a man standing in front of her, just starting to turn around towards the noise he’d made.

With a snarl, K’tar drew himelf up short, hurling one knife at the man’s back before grabbing the one Barlow had sent and leaping forward, throwing himself at the man, intending to finish what his thrown knife would hopefully start.

[Cait]

As Ancalanath angled in to land and began to backwing, Dalonia hissed and grabbed hold of the man in front of her, her fear of falling momentarily overriding bother her pride and her determination to retrieve the lost Weyrling. When there were still a few yards off the ground, Dalosk wriggled about and jumped to the ground, landing nimbly on his two-toed feet and stumbling briefly before he got his balance; he was about as keen to fly as his handler and just like her he was disconcerted which almost immediately translated to being ornery. When the RR Flame finally landed, Dalonia was quick to remove her arms from around T'kar's waist and scrambled down. Immediately three firelizards converged znd for once Dalonia didn't shoo them away. Klutz was beside herself and Thief and Pest quite agitated. Glancing over at the other kingrider she then turned her attention back to T'kar. "Get yer wee menaces out here and send them out, between then at least one should be able to find her; I've seen yers fetch yer sister."

[Terayne]

Wee menaces? W'ren thought, cocking his head. Then he realized just what she meant and nodded to himself, before mentally calling. Instantly, his Queen came to hand, settling to his arm and angling her head to view everything going on. She's rather light Mine... She would probably be seen... Farwith commented quietly, and W'ren chewed on his lower lip. The King was right, he thought, then looked to T'kar, Gera nuzzling his chest until he petted her softly, just waiting to see if he should send the Silver to hunt or not.

[Simile]

As soon as she saw K'tar, Chantrea felt tears spring to her eyes. "K'tar! Be careful!" she shouted at him. her brother was caught off guard and stumbled as the knife hit him, grasping for it. He was unprepared for the young man who through himself at him from behind. HE turned to contest with him and attempted to take the knife from the young man and attakc him. Another of the men rushed forward toward K'tar, but Chantrea stuck out her legs, causing him to stumble. She gasped in pain, her wounds hurt. Her skin bore several shallow wounds now. They stung and needed healing and tending to, she knew. She was afraid that they may become worse if they were not properly cared for as they needed to be soon.

She cried out. "K'tar look out behind you!" she said as another man rushed forward towards him, his own knife in hand.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar managed to dodge the first man’s initial attack, spinning out to one side and swinging the knife around to keep the man from closing the distance. He thrust forward, but the man dodged and came at him again, forcing him to dance back in a fighter’s crouch.

Unfortunately, he was so focused on getting by the man in front of him that he wasn’t paying much attention to his surroundings. The first warning he had of an attack from behind was Chantrea’s shout.

He spun partway around, starting to bring his knife around to deal with this new threat, only to be tackled from behind, as the man he had been fighting lunged forward. He started to twist around, only to stop as a knife found his throat.

“What’s this, sister? Your boyfriend?” the man laughed.

——
Help! Help! They’ve grabbed K’tarMine! They are here! Here!

——
T’kar opened his mouth to tell his firelizards to start searching, when Ancalanath suddenly turned to stare towards the far side of the Hold.

T’karMine! They are there. They have K’tar as well.

T’kar growled. Ancalanath was showing him where the building was, but flying the dragons there, what with the cramped landing space, would be harder then…

“W’ren, dismount. Dalonia, will Dalosk carry us? All of us.”

Ancalanath, you and Farwith are going to have to direct us.

Can do. Farwith?

[Simile]

Chantrea struggled harder against her bonds, her wrists starting to rub raw from the ropes. "Let him go!" She demanded. One of her elder brothers - one that was actually related to her, grabbed hold of her hair and pulled a knife to her throat as well. "Seems we can't leave either of you alive now, hmmm... Now tell me hero... what did she tell you about us?" He looked to his eldest brother who was beign seen to by one of the men. Pathetic, he supposed. But, this half-assed rescue attempt had actually done some damage. The boy was certianly more useful than their little sister... but.... her doubted he would be any help. Unless of course, the held Chantrea at ransom.... but that was far too risky.

Chantrea swallowed, staring with wide eyes at K'tar, not daring to move. Barely daring to breathe. "I'm sorry K'tar," she whispered and the man yanked her hair. She bit her lip. "Waht was that, sister? Are you apologizing to your boyfriend? You should be begging for your life and apologizing to us!"

He looked at the purple rider. "What'll you do to save her life I wonder... Tell me... are you my little sister's boyfriend or just a hot-headed rider who hates that we slighted his Weyr by taking a precious Weyrling from under your noses?" He grinned. It hadn't actually been that hard - simply having to ensure that both the dragon and girl had been drugged had been the simple part. It was slipping by the whers that had been the difficult, thrilling, and dangerous part.

[Terayne]

W'ren was already on the ground, so T'kar's command to dismount was unneeded, and he straightened, dwarfed by his dragon, even crouched as the Tiger was. The pair watched intently, waiting, and Gera was told to go up and retrieve the secondary pouch W'ren had brought. The little one darted up and undid it, then brought it back down, and W'ren attached it to his belt. Of course, Ancalanath, he replied, remarkably calmly, as he rose to his feet and just watched the RR Flame, waiting until he took off. Take care Mine. Don't forget to watch your back...

Of course, my love. W'ren's head turned as he looked in the direction they needed to go, following Ancalanath's gaze and wondering what they were going to run into...

[Jay Kitten]

Ordinary days called for unordinary activities, or at least he had thought so when he'd headed down to Cliffside to see what was going on. Nothing was going on, of course, it was early morning, but the peace and quiet certainly was something he enjoyed. Quiet... Ah, everything was always so quiet with him. Why? Why not? The boy searched through the Hold looking for something to interest him, and found a butterfly. Blue and black and gold, it fluttered about and he followed it, humming to himself- in his head of course- a simple tune to go along with it's aimless flights.

But it suddenly turned, and alighted somewhere in his hair, leaving him to only look up as a dragon appeared, flying over the Hold before he could hear terrified shrieks coming from the Firelizards living here. Lylore didn't like that noise, those horrified ear-piercing sounds... But he knew that even if he were able to yell about it, it wouldn't quite stop them. Soon enough, dragons were everywhere, and he poked his head out from around a few corners every now and then trying to discern what was happening. Apparently, somebody was missing and they were to start a search. A search? Why not?

Ordinary days called for unordinary activities.

It wasn't even long before he noticed the direction of movement of the Riders and their dragons, and he ducked behind a few of the outlying buildings and started to move with them. He knew he wasn't going to be useful as far as talking went, but he had a body and he could do something to help. His face was solemn as he went, the butterfly still stretching it's wings in his hair.

[Cait]

Dalonia noted Ancalanath's reaction and tensed, Dalosk picked up on the dragons agitation and growled. When T'kar spoke, Dalonia cast a glance at both of the men then looked to her Crimson and nodded. "He'll do it. S'the only choice we got. You have a location then?"

Dalosk snarled and then stilled when Dalonia glared at him. Another pointed look and he haltingly hunkered down for the others to climb up. Dalonia mounted first then held a hand down to help the others up. "This ain't going t' be like riding a dragon, boys. Hold tight."

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’kar grinned. Or maybe “bared his teeth” would be the better description.

“We have one now,” he said, watching as Ancalanath sprang into the air. Within moments, he could see the streets laid out in a grid, the way Ancalanath saw them, and the route that would lead them to their goal.

Reaching out and grabbing Dalonia’s hand, he swung himself up onto Dalosk’s back. Whether or not this would be like riding a dragon, it was the fastest and safest way there.

———
K’tar growled, then fell silent as the knife dug into his throat. His teeth were still clenched in a soundless snarl. He was Threadbait if he was going to let these people realize that they had scared him, so he clung to his anger, forcing his fear beneath it. He refused to focus on Chantrea’s apology, refused to realize what it meant.

The man with a knife on Chantrea’s throat just watched him. "What'll you do to save her life I wonder... Tell me... are you my little sister's boyfriend or just a hot-headed rider who hates that we slighted his Weyr by taking a precious Weyrling from under your noses?" the man asked, grinning.

K’tar felt a flicker of fear. It wasn’t just his life at stake, but Chantrea’s life as well…

“Anything.” His head hung slightly, held up only to avoid slicing his own throat on the knife. “I’ll do anything, give you anything.” As he spoke, he realized the words were true. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, that he wouldn’t do or arrange for Chantrea’s life and safety. He’d feel awful, but he’d still do it.

[Simile]

Chantrea gasped and tried to pull away, stopping as she felt the knife press a little closer. "No! K'tar! Not anything! Don't do anything for me! They'll use you! Take advantage... make yo udo terrible things! Not for me! PLEASE!" she wailed... and was yanked back by her hair. Her brother grinned. "Well young man... you have a deal... Let him go." He nodded to the other man. "Take his weapons first. Come and get the woman you love... but know thte moment you don't do as asked is te moment that she dies... we have someone inside already.... but of course, we aren't going to be telling you who that is. Now hurry up and take her before I change my mind and run her through!" He snapped, still holding the kinfe on Chantrea.

Chan swallowed. "Be careful... please K'tar... please... don't do this. I don't want to watch you suffer..." she said, her tone pleading. She gapsed slightly as her brother struck her across the face.

"Shut-up you brat! mom and dad already want you dead! He's your only chance or don't you realize, sister?" His smile was almost sickening. She despised her family more in that moment than any ohter.

She closed her eyes tightly for a moment, swallowing before oepning pained eyes to look at K'tar. Her K'tar. Her wonderful purple rider....