Hurricane: Stormy Skies (1)

Writers: Cali, Clancey, Dana
Date Posted: 21st April 2007

Characters: Mosler, Traelyn, J'darin, Parvey
Description: Mosler brings word of an impending hurricane to the Weyrleaders.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 19 of Turn 4

J'darin

"Parvey!" Mosler called as he jumped off the runner he'd come in on. He could just make out the senior journeyman dolphineer that was stationed at the Weyr's docks. It was still pitch black, and he'd only two lanterns lit. "The dolphins just reported--"

"Hurricane sir!" Parvey finished. "I know, I just got a report, it's going to be a bad one."

The Hallmaster waved off the dockworker who had rushed over to take his runner's reins. "Have you informed the Weyrleaders yet?" Parvey shook his head, "Not yet, I just heard."

Mosler jumped back up on the runner, "I'll go tell them. Start getting these docks secure, and get those ships out to sea!" he added before he urged the runner towards the Weyr.

It was still dark, early early morning. J'darin lay sleeping alone, nearly invisible beneath the furs.

It was Oak who woke him moments before Hasaarth's bugle shook the weyr. The flit's urgent chittering startled J'darin into wakefulness and sent him reaching for pants just in time to hear someone banging on the door.

"Who is it?" The bronzerider yelled sleepily, running toward the door just as Hasaarth bugled a second time.

"It's Mosler." the hallmaster announced as he lowered his fist from the door.
He spared a glance at brownrider, that he had grabbed to show him the Weyrleaders weyr, making a hasty retreat down the cooridor, and then turned back to the openning door. "We've a hurricane coming, a bad one, and it's not going to miss us this time."

J'darin beckoned the Hallmaster in, letting his mind register what Mosler had just said. "Another one?" He blinked in the brightening light as he went to turn up one of the glows.

"Is it our lucky month or something?" the Weyrleader paused a moment. His voice was soft, steeled for the worst. "Just _how_ bad?"

"Very bad." Mosler said hoping the Weyrleader took him seriously, "The dolphins say it's coming right for us. We need to make preparations, we're just a couple of candlemarks ahead of the start."

Whatever his beliefs, J'darin was no fool. He knew that if anyone's word of an impending storm was to be trusted, it was the dolphins and their Hallmaster.

His Weyrleader face settled into place, and he grabbed a wherhide jacket from a peg. "Lets go wake up the Weyrwoman, Mosler. She'll _love_ it!" A faint attempt at a smile surfaced.

** Hasaarth, please wake up Nyith and her rider gently. Tell them the news is not good and Mosler and I are on our way to her weyr. Thank you, beloved. We'll get Nyith to start waking up the other dragons, but you could wake Luthinath, Donneth, Ikoladith, and Cendarnth.**

"This way, Hallmaster. We'll do our best to prepare. Any suggestions you or the dolphins have will be welcome."

As Mosler followed the Weyrleader he couldn't help but feel apprehension at his meeting with the Weyrwoman. Their last meeting had ended in his heart attack, and he wouldn't be surprised if this one had the same result!
"Parvey is working with your dockmen to batten down the docks, other than that I wish you all luck. We do have three small holds down the coast without dolphineers though, if you could send dragons to warn them it'd be appreciated."

By the time the two men had reached her weyr, Traelyn had thrown on her shift and a robe. "Good morning, gentlemen," she greeted, voice rather breathless as she pulled open the door. Despite the early candlemark and her disheveled appearance, the young Weyrwoman was awake and alert. And as she took one long look at J'darin's face, she knew it wasn't really a good morning. "Come in."

As Traelyn was answering the door, J'darin was nodding in agreement with Mosler's request. "Aye, I've just the lads to send."

** Wake up Menanth and Naath too, Hasaarth. I'll need them for messages, and a bronze will fly better when the wind picks up. ** J'darin knew I'lan and D'ren wouldn't be very appreciative of being used as messengers, but the two of them were the best choices.

The Weyrleader met his Weyrwoman's glance with eyes focused, but dark with worry. They would need every bit of strength they could find. It was _not_
a good morning, not today.

"We're sorry to intrude so early, Traelyn. But Mosler came as fast as he could with some grave news." As they stepped into her weyr, he nodded to the Hallmaster. "Tell us everything, Mosler."

"The dolphins report that a hurricane is due before noon," he reported, more to J'darin than Traelyn. "They say it will hit us full on, not a glancing blow like a few days ago. It's to be very bad, so I would recommend taking full precautions."

J'darin paid no mind to Mosler's actions, although he dimly noticed it.

"Hit us right on..." His voice faltered. "And Nyith just clutched, so we can't evacuate the Weyr." He sought Trae's gaze again, his face tensing with worry. "How long do we have, and what kind of precautions do you suggest? Do we need to move the Harper Hall away from the coast? What about your folk, Mosler? Do they want to come to the Weyr instead?"

Mosler was surprised the Weyrleader didn't have plans already in place, especially after the grazing they received a few days ago, but maybe it was the intensity that was worrying him... "The rain will start soon, we'll be full in the storm by noon, and unless it's an unusual hurricane, it should be over by the end of the day. And thank you, but the Dolphin Hall will be fine. We'll secure it, and do our best to keep it dry, and of course we'll be at your disposal for rescue or salvage after the storm has passed."

J'darin nodded. "There are plans drawn up for securing the Weyr; I just wondered how strong this little weather of yours was going to be. It's been turns since a hurricane hit us dead on like this one is going to do, and I'm afraid we're all a little out of practice. The one a few days ago gave us some practice, but then we knew that one wasn't coming right at us, either." He tried to remember all he knew about hurricanes. Growing up at Amethyst Cliff and Impressing at Dragonsfall didn't lend itself to hurricane knowledge as much as the coast. "I wonder if the Weyrbowl will flood? And we should expect a storm surge, isn't it called?"

The Dolphin Hallmaster was again surprised with how little knowledge the Weyr appeared to have about potential hurricane problems, but he supposed they did have more pressing things to worry about with Thread.

"It's entirely possible. The lowlands could easily become flooded during the storm, so I would highly suggest sandbagging your ground level entrances as well as evacuating your people from that area. Anything outside or on the ground level that you dont want to chance being swept away needs to be moved."

"I'm not sure about evacuating; we've never had a Crafthall to worry about before this turn. I think we'll evacuate only if absolutely necessary. When we had the near miss a few days ago, I pulled someplans the previous Weyrleaders had left behind. Since I've been Weyrleader, we haven't had a hurricane hit dead on. Even since I've been here at all, over the last few turns. Although I think there was one not too long before I transferred." He considered for a moment.

"We'll do the sandbagging. What else, Trae? You manage the Weyr more than I do. I have my hands full managing the Wings, which I intend to ground.
It isn't going to be safe to fly."

Traelyn nodded, dark eyes flickering to her Weyrleader's. "Once we're through here, I'll speak with Jyramikah and the Headwoman." They Needed to plan their course of action...and soon. Precious moments were trickling away. Shards, they needed more time than they had!

J'darin turned back to Mosler. "I think we can start preparing with the knowledge you've given us, Hallmaster." the Weyrleader said gravely. "Thank you very much for coming to us so quickly; I know you have your own folk to worry over."

"Is there anything else I can do to help you, Mosler? Want a lift back to the Hall? Hasaarth has woken up a few other dragons already and we could transport you quicker, while we still can fly."

Mosler shook his head and waved off the offer, "No thanks, I've got to check back with Parvey before I head back to the Hall. He's got his hands full securing your docks. We'll send word via firelizard if we recieve any new information from the dolphins."

"Thank you, Mosler." J'darin said softly, but genuinely. "And that you for securing our docks for us, we appreciate it." "Good luck to us all." He added, then turned to Traelyn. They had some serious planning ahead, and a very long day.

Last updated on the April 22nd 2007

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Hurricane: Stormy Skies (1)