Scouting the blaze (Open)

[summerrain]

Tera quickly climbed on Picosith's back, head held high. This was her chance to prove herself to these people, the ones who didn't think she could be a Rider at only fourteen. The Wood dragoness took off with the others, and Tera was amazed at how far the blaze had already come. So much smoke... They had to fly through said smoke before they reached the clearer skies above it.

Flying through the smoke was not easy on the child, but they were not in the cloud for very long. She was coughing for a few moments after they breached the smoke cloud, but it quickly passed. There was a wave of worry from her dragoness, but Tera put a hand on Picosith's neck to reassure her. She shook the smoke off, turning to the Wingleader. They had been divided into smaller branch Wings, and Tera was part of the highest-flying scout Wing. She looked down, over Picosith's side, and gasped. It was already so big! How were they going to fight this? She shook her head, clearing her thoughts. Now was so not the time to think like that! Picosith banked right as the Wing spread out, and she spotted one of the other scout Wings. Tera squinted, almost seeing something, when a flock of birds came soaring out of the smoke, startling them both. Tera blocked her face with her hands, then checked to make sure Picosith wasn't hurt.

A flock of avians can't hurt me that bad, Picosith told Hers as she banked again to reform with the Wing. She dove into the smoke with the wing, despite her anxiety against it. Tera began to cough again, and covered her mouth with a cloth. But she'd already gotten smoke into her system. Not enough to do any real trouble, but it was enough that she felt wrong without really knowing why. They breached the smoke cloud again, and Tera moved the cloth from her lungs. One of the other Wingriders came up beside her.

They want to know if you are alright, Picosith reported. Tera nodded.

I'll be fine, Tera told Picosith, who relayed the message to the other Wingrider. He nodded and returned to formation.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Three days. It had been three days since the Weyr heard about the fire, and only one day since conditions had been safe enough to justify sending riders to try and track the blaze.

T'kar twitched his nose, trying to make the damp cloth tied over his lower face feel less restrictive. They were above the worst of the smoke, but it was still around them, to a lesser extent, reducing visibility and making breathing unpleasant. Ask P’nor for a visual confirmation on Tera’s condition. I don’t care what she said, she’s got enough guts for an army; of course she said she’ll be fine.

There was a brief pause, while Ancalanath relayed the request and waited for a reply. He says she seems ok. Doesn’t have her mouth cover any more

Shard it! T’kar growled to himself. Tell R’le to hold the front, then head back by Tera and Picosith.

Ancalanath relayed the information and swept up, rolling over in a dragged out flip that brought him down about a dragon-length from Picosith.

Picosith, T’kar wants TeraYours to catch the replacement mouth-cloth and wear it.

T’kar tied the cloth around a small firestone sack and, as soon as Tera was looking towards him, tossed it to her.

[summerrain]

Picosith flapped her wings once to get a bit more height, to get Tera away from the smoke.

Tera, T'kar is going to toss a new mouth-cloth. He wants you to catch it.

Alright. The girl looked at the Weyrleader and held out one hand. She caught the cloth, using both hands to tie the strings around her head. Her cloth had been snatched from her hand by the wind. Picosith banked to the right, and Tera quickly wrapped her hands around a neck spike. She made sure that her cloth was tied securely this time when the Wood began to glide smoothly. Tell them thanks, will you?

Ancalanth, Tera wants to relay her gratitude to Yours. As do I. The cloth she had was taken by the wind. She kept her next words from the girl on her back. She is certain that there are those in the Wing who do not think she is ready to fly with them. That she is too young. But she is too stubborn to tell T'kar herself. That is why she is so determined to prove herself. She wants them to recognize her as a Rider. Oh, but please don't let her know that I told you... I don't want her upset, especially at such a critical time.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T'kar grinned and flipped a quick hand signal in acknowledgement of Tera's tying the cloth on. Which also served as an acknowledgement of her thanks, as relayed from Ancalanath.

Ancalanath banked away from Picosith, starting to circle wide so as to come back to the front of the Wing along the other side of the widely spaced scouting formation. T'kar? Picosith says that Tera believes that some in the Wing think she is too young to fly as an adult. Picosith doesn't want us to reveal she told us.

So that explains it, T'kar commented, recalling the young rider's often present determination to be as good and need as little or less help as any other rider.

Tell, R'le to turn us out further towards the far side of Golden Flight.