Jump Scare
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Devin, Sia
Date Posted: 21st October 2024
Characters: R'lor, O'rosin
Description: O'rosin doesn't go where he's supposed to.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 10 of Turn 11
Notes: Follows "Leap of Faith"
And then they were /between/. And, as quickly as they were, they weren't.
The ocean stretched out far beneath them, and O'rosin's scream was lost to the wind.
}: We're fine! :{ Aeoluth called quickly back, as if he needed to shout over the scream or the wind racing past them. }: You wanted to go to the ocean. :{ He said plainly. He banked hard to the left, and there was a dizzying second where O'rosin was nearly horizontal, but the Weyr came quickly back into view. O'rosin immediately felt stupid at the panic, but the feeling quickly gave way to dread.
**You better tell Kularth we're fine.** O'rosin said. **And fly back to the Weyrbowl.**
**Where are they?** R'lor couldn't hear anything over the thundering pulse in his ears. He held his breath, waiting for the keening to begin.
}:They are not gone.:{ Kularth's voice was distant as he focused. Then Aeoluth reported and he relayed the information to his rider. }:Stay where you are!:{ he told the brown. }:We are coming.:{
"They're alive," R'lor told the class, unable to keep the relief out of his voice. He handed the class off to Sh'del and J'lor and then vaulted up to Kularth's neck. Minutes later, they came out of /between/ close to O'rosin and Aeoluth.
}:Why did you disobey?:{ Kularth demanded.
The sudden appearance of the Weyrlingmaster's blue caused Aeoluth to veer sharply away, the sudden movement causing O'rosin to slam hard against the brown's neckridge. For a terrifying split second he was afraid that he wasn't strapped in again or that the strap would break. It held, this time, and both dragon and rider righted themselves.
}: We were nervous.:{ Aeoluth relayed, unwilling to blame O'rosin on the last-minute image. }: I thought the ocean would make us feel better. :{
}:You were told to go to the Star Stones,:{ Kularth said firmly. }:Many are nervous, that is not a reason to disobey. You will follow us.:{ Kularth turned back toward the Weyr. As they flew, R'lor looked back a few times to make sure the weyrling pair was following.
Aeoluth didn't stray far; the dread radiating from O'rosin prevented him from gallivanting like he might have. He tried not to look at the ocean and then the beaches below, or over at the weyrlingmaster and his dragon. His eyes stayed focused and intent on the dark bay hide in front of him.
Aeoluth landed _hard_ and clumsy, though it had happened enough that O'rosin knew how to shift in the straps to avoid getting the wind knocked out of him again. He clambered down quickly and by the time R'lor got there he was soothing the brown with pats and scratches to his side. "Why." O'rosin asked faintly, "Can't I do _anything_ right?"
"That's a good question," R'lor grumbled as he stepped up to the weyrling. The fear of losing them had turned to anger at the mistake. "Did you visualize the ocean instead of the Star Stones?"
"He had the image of the Star Stones." O'rosin answered. "He sent them to you. I was trying not to think about going /between/ at all. I was thinking about Aeoluth wanting a seaside weyr when he's bigger, and I guess he must've took that? It was only for a few seconds..." He trailed off. His hand didn't move from the big brown hide. "I didn't mean to scare anyone."
"By losing your concentration and thinking of something else, you could have been lost /between/ forever." At least it hadn't been a deliberate stunt, but R'lor didn't know what he was going to do with this pair. "At this early stage you absolutely can not get distracted."
}:Sometimes our riders think of places they do not mean for us to go,:{ Kularth told Aeoluth. }:You must learn to understand, and more importantly, you must learn to obey.:{
"Yes, sir." O'rosin said weakly. His hand stilled on the brown hide, the feel of Aeoluth grounding him. He looked pale and shaken.
}: I did. :{ The brown said, though not to argue. He could feel O'rosin's upset and stress and R'lor's anger through that he _knew_ he did wrong, and the low rumble in his chest meant to comfort.
"You did." O'rosin added to the brown. "But you have to only go where I say. Don't go anywhere else, even if I'm thinking about it."
R'lor looked at the young rider for a moment and sighed. "Training is only going to become more dangerous from here on. I want you to survive, O'rosin, and for that to happen you _have_ to get him to follow directions."
O'rosin nodded. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to keep calm for Aeoluth. He didn't know what else to do either, but it needed to happen _soon_.
Last updated on the November 4th 2024