Threadfall! [Skies are Clear!]

[Narrator]

How the Narrative Works
There are three stages - First Contact in the skies over the mountains. Invasion at the Weyr. Final Encounter above Kajano Hold. Each stage has a different group of people involved in the scene.

The Narrator and then Thread! will post Opening Scenes, and then the battle begins! With prior permission or under circumstances (you're unconscious), the Narrator may post for your character. PC names mentioned in Narrator posts will be in bold. The Narrator may or may not post for NPCs. NPCs may or may not be injured based on the whim of the Narrator. Healers need something to do.

Threadfall itself will post at random intervals within each stage. PC names mentioned in Threadall posts will not be in bold.

Player Characters and Their Stats
Below is a list of all the PCs active during this Threadfall. This is to keep a running tally of who is here for everyone's benefit, and a quick reference place to post other pertinent information. You may see an endurance and/or health percentage next to your characters' names. If you opted-out of being injured or dying, you have no health percentage. This represents that no harm will come to the character despite narrative falls or accidents. Bruises and other abrasions, scratches, and other such superficial injuries notwithstanding.

Based on your character's actions when confronted with Threadfall or another dire situation, you will lose endurance and/or health in increments of 5%. If the character's endurance or health falls below a certain percentage, they may suffer more serious injuries as their body gives out and fatigue takes them over. A groundcrew member with low health, may, for example, feel woozy, and a green dragon with a low endurance score may be unable to lift her wings wide enough to fly. These events appear at the Narrator's discretion. Or yours. Mayhap this percentage will give you inspiration for details to add to your post. Or not.

You will note that some of you begin with endurance or health lower than 100%. This is based on your background, age, and health status at the time that Thredfall begins. If you do not understand the reason, please reach out to the Narrator with your questions.

Your Responsibilities
* Have fun. That's what this is all about.

* Thread must die!

* Post. Please be proactive about chasing Thread. Sometimes it will float close to you, sometimes it will not. Please react to nearby Thread clumps. Please post for at least two characters involved in the scene. Post for your fire lizards. Post for your dragons and whers. Please note that though you are not obliged to post for everyone listed below tis appreciated for your words bring the narrative to life.

Please refer to the information below for the status of each character as well as other important information. See "How the Narrative Works" for an explanation of these percentages.

* If you are confused about why something happened to your character, why so-and-so is typing for an unknown character, or why you do not appear in this story arc, please refer to this post.

If you don't remember your wing or your assigned groundcrew unit, look at the Wing Assignments. These are the regular assignments for the various characters. Mayhap these will give you inspiration for details in your post. Or not.

If you don't remember where you left your keys, please contact security. Or not.

* Remember to breathe... or not...


First Contact - Area Secured!
Time Until Threadfall End: ~20 minutes
Light clouds skies.

Invasion - Area Secured!
The Thread storm is visible in the distance as a sheaf of shimmering silver across the south/south-eastern sky. Colorful specks dart around under it.
Second Unit of the Groundcrew and grounded dragonriders stationed here in the Weyrbowl.

Final Encounter] - Area Secured!
Thread visible in the skies above. Directly over Kajano Hold and the immediate landscape.

First Unit groundcrew fights alongside the Hold's groundcrew at Kajano Hold.

PCs involved

A'ric (Caldreth) - Health: 100%
A'zrl (Kaith) - Health 100%, Endurance 20%
D'nel (Ebonth)
F'rendil (T'wenth) - Health 80%, Endurance 50%
K'ivan (Baizynth)
Kelessa (Wilmith) - Health 100%, Endurance 20%
R'dan (Voraidith) - Health 100%
S'yloa (Engmyth) - Health 100%, Endurance 20%
Unknown (Luiezaranth) - Health 100%, Endurance 60%


AND...

Kerrin
Jannasper - Health: 100%.
Joliffe - Health: 99%.
Millian - Health: 100%.
Mimi - Health: 100%
Tellga - Health: 100%
Anyone who lives at Kajano Hold!




FallOut - Not here Yet. 
Still fighting...

Injured List - Cumulative
J’raya (Gamath): Hold in his wingsail, across flank. Still fighting.
T’wenth: Hole in his wingsail. Still fighting.
Carona (Surperith): Multiple thread scores. Grounded.

Feeling inspired but not "in the scene"? Consider making a RP thread on Discord.
These rules may be updated as needed.

[Narrator]

Time Reference: Day 4 after earthquake destroys some of Crashing Seas Weyr, Candidates arrive, Kerrin takes over as Headwoman, etc. Day 4 after Quarantine lifts (Erdan archipelago).

---

Candidate lessons continued... the Weyr's new residents slowly assimilated into their new life. On the second night after the initial groundquake, an aftershock rocked the mountain range again, thus causing further destruction to an already crippled landscape. Minor tremors continued throughout the night. In the morning, the Weyrhold's residents still at Crashing Seas awoke to the terrifying discovery of the damage caused by the night tremors. The obliteration of the Hatching Sands. It became evident that no dragon could live safely in the former Crashing Seas Weyrhold, and thus faced with no choice but to abandon their home, the dragonriders reluctantly agreed to move to Great Cliffs Weyr. Other 'folk followed them with only two residents refusing to leave.

K'ivan, Klissi, a selected few from Great Cliffs, and the leadership of Crashing Seas met to discuss the new situation. K'ivan appointed Ra'shin and brown Sorenyth to the Weyrling Master position. As the oldest of the Wherhold's dragonriders, the veteran brown rider had previously been in charge of the Crashing Seas' dragonriders, commanding them in battle. So, he became a Wingleader too. K'ivan assigned the Crashing Seas dragonriders to their new wings.

Yesterday, in preparation for today, the Weyr had Threadfall practice.

Today...

The weather threatened to rain the morning and frost coated the mountains. Heavy fog lingered over the darkened, predawn arena. Dawn saw the Weyr and Hold alike preparing for the coming slaughter. Plumes of breath and a brief snow flurry over the mountains brought whispers of continuing bad weather for the day. This shed rays of hope for a cancellation. Dragons rumbled their displeasure. Still did the Weyr prepare for the Threadfall. Just in case. Sparse meals gathered, armaments and equipment at the ready. All eyes watched the sky. And as the time of the fall grew closer, the skies cleared till all that remained of the heavy layer wert scattered gray drifts pierced through with rays of the late morning light. Enough to see, enough to fight. The Threadfall continued as scheduled by the ancient charts.


Dragonriders must rise!

[Thread!]

Today’s ‘fall had a route that saw it float over the Weyr and Kajano Hold before drifting back out to sea. From coast-to-coast, this Threadfall threatened Western for an uncomfortable four hours.
Time Left: ~4 hours.

---

FIRST CONTACT

Coming from the northwest a storm like no other drifted across Western's northern half. The sleet-like configuration of Threadfall. Its silvery "rain"drops familiar to Pernese these last seventeen turns, they knew now the sight meant death. Each sinuous ribbon writhed of its own accord, seeking and eager to taste the organic matter that lay below. A relentless hunger drove Thread. It had few enemies. There were only a handful of ways to destroy it. Records and those who studied Thread claimed it had no intelligence, but veteran Threadfall fighters might wonder otherwise when it seemingly lunged toward them as though eager to feed on their flesh.

Early on this blustery morning, the Thread drifted over the open ocean, visible as a misty shimmer through the fog but too far up in the sky to be dangerous to anyone. Though golds, bronzes, and the worthy brown could reach it, there wast no need to rise to such a high elevation and fight over the water unless the Weyrleader deemed it so. With each passing heartbeat, the Thread grew closer and filled more of the sky till it peaked at covering half the blue dome above. 

Threadfall charts showed upon which battlefield the storm named Menace and Western should meet. Not far wherein in lay Great Cliffs and further south-east fortified within and upon the green expanse of the foothills, Kajano Hold. Mt. Syndicate loomed on the eastern edge of the range. Over the rocky landscape of the mountains below a myriad of frigid lakes and small valleys dotted this wilderness far from the Weyr. Some plateaus afforded flat ares on which to fight; however, their peaks rose far from ordinary means, requiring a dragon ride or time to make the ascent. During the spring season, hard-packed snow turned to slush and pedestrians laden with heavy equipment risked falling through unexpected snow melts. This was not a safe landscape for the ground-bound to travel as not even runner roads penetrated this area. Those who scratched out a living in the snow-spattered hid during Threadfall and offered no help to the dragons above. These factors meant it was up to the Weyrleader to decide whether to place groundcrew to fight Thread on an already hazardous area.

In less than a quarter of a candlemark, the time of conflict drew nigh...

The shimmering tsunami made landfall on the mountain range. Waves of glittering skysnakes plummeted from the scattered clouds, bent on devouring the world...

[K'ivan]

It was here. It was time. Dragonmen must fly... Old nursery rhymes ran through K'ivan's head as he, and the rest of the dragonriders of Great Cliffs, waited for Thread to arrive. The first stage of today's Threadfall proved the most treacherous to plan due to the lack of ground support. The strong winds predicted for today meant a fast moving 'Fall with little time to pack up the groundcrew to take them to the next location. Due to their depleted numbers combined with the nasty conditions, the Weyrleader decided to concentrate on killing the Thread in the sky. He decided against using groundcrew during the first part of the Threadfall. Without easy access to ways off the mountains, K'ivan feared leaving his people behind. Once they reached the sky over the Weyr, there'd be enough people to spare including gold Tuirith.

In order to merge the Crashing Seas dragonriders into the Great Cliffs' wings and add the Weyr's other new residents into the fighting ranks, K'ivan restructured a lot of the Threadfall assignments, from new wingleaders to changes in the groundcrew. He asked Joliffe about the older man's condition regarding fighting, and after confirming "it'd been a while, but I'm still able", assigned Joliffe to groundcrew too. The Weyrleader made sure to reassure Kerrin personally that she'd be safe during Threadfall because there'd be a plethora of people from the Weyr, and T'nik and his blue Jaxtorth too, a dragonrider pair perfectly capable of flying her to safety if things turned unmanageable.

The Weyrwoman being grounded due to Tuirith's clutch on the sands meant that Golden Glow, the queens' wing had new leadership during the next two days, naming the newest Wingleader Ra'shin and his brown Sorenyth. K'ivan had to trust the veteran dragonriders of Great Cliffs to honor this leadership and fight as they would for Klissi and Tuirith. Despite combining the two dragonrider populations, the numbers came up short for any proper sky formation. Wings reduced to half their size didn't stand a chance when fighting alone, so K'ivan combined everyone into two wings, condensing their strength on the ground. Over the rocky wilderness of the mountains, this strategy should work fine. By the time they reached the Weyr and Kajano there'd be heavier ground reinforcements. Just in case things went poorly, he briefed everyone on safe landing spots for injured dragons. Each section had designated safe landing zones. 

Since the full dragonrider numbers remained so low, he couldn't afford to give the common colors their much needed fighting in shifts. Every dragon had to fight through the entire fall, a horrible situation for those colors who lacked endurance. K'ivan instructed the greens and blues that they've have to rest on an individual basis. He gave them specific time slots, which meant they'd have to keep fighting and push their stamina until their time slot. This allowed the blues and greens time to rest even if the Thread found its way to the bottom Flight. During planning sessions, he chosen specific peaks and landing sites at higher elevations along the Threadfall's route instructed A'ric and Ra'shin to pass on these locations to their chromatic wingriders. 

Now, on the field of battle, K'ivan situated the Wings so they'd meet the Thread off the coast, and keep pace with it as it made its way across the continent below them. Meeting it while still over the ocean gave the dragonriders a final chance to get in sync with not only themselves and their dragons, but their other wing mates. Some of them rode under new leadership, and with new wing mates. Even though he'd conducted one Threadfall practice with this new arrangement, sometimes practice wasn't enough.

With no groundcrew to assist them, K'ivan could only hope that any missed Threadfall died by freezing. Afterwards, he'd ensure sweep 'rider flew through the area to check for potential burrows, with a groundcrew group on stand by in case of a sighting. It grows closer. Baizynth sent, his mental voice terse even in those scant syllables. Nevermind afterwards. You're right. K'ivan agreed with an unnecessary nod. K'ivan put a hand behind him to turn in the saddle and check the readiness of the 'riders on either side of him (Wingleaders), and behind him (wingseconds and regular riders) as for now he allowed his bronze's instincts to grow stronger within him and concentrated on the here-and-now of this Threadfall.

When it came to them, when the first strands came within winging distance, the Weyrleader raised his fist and he sent the mental command to Baizynth. Tell them now, Bai. His dragon's first reaction was to send it to his mate, he didn't even think about her being on the ground, elsewhere. The Weyrleader's thoughts focused solely on decimating their ancient enemy. K'ivan dropped his fist to unleash his fighters, and he led the charge into the Threadfall....

Baizynth roared his challenge to IT as he flared his wings, every ounce of his being quivered with the desire to burn the silver stuff. Every ounce of the being meant for this moment. Destroy IT all! Baizynth sent to the other dragons as he launched himself toward the 'Fall.


K'ivan led the dragonriders to the leading edge of the Threadfall, meeting the Ancient Enemy head-on. He had to trust that the others remembered their training now. Remembered to spread out but keep in formation. Remembered to look everywhere and be alert. Then, they were among the Thread clumps and there was no more time to think. Only time to fight IT. To Burn It. There! To the right! Consumed in the moment, K'ivan felt the rush of emotion and the tension rush through his body. He felt the mighty heat rushing up their throat and witnessed the belching flames pour forth.

[Klissi]

A'zrl (Kaith)

Before the fall...
A'zrl had been chatting Z'iv ear off, as was typical for the green to do. Some of the time asking what Z'vi knew of D'nel. When Z'iv told him he should just ask D'nel himself, A'zrl waved it off saying something like 'No he is too busy.' Meanwhile Kaith waited, her eyes glued to the clouds as her tail thumped against the ground waiting for the menace to appear. The cloud cover meant they would not fly, would not fight. This annoyed her, for the menace must die!

Then the clouds began to fade, and the silver menace entered the stage. Tail thumping harder now, Kaith wanted nothing more than to take off and start the fight. If the weyr had been at full strength, she and her rider would be at the lower levels with the queen. But with so many recently lost, it almost appeared to the large green that she would be flying higher this fight. A'zrl stroked his dragon's neck from his seat. Steady girl. Soon. Soon.

While his dragons eyes were on the thread, A'zrl had eyes on the wingleader. When Ki'van's fist raised, A'zrl hunched down in his saddle ready for a fast take off. This caused Kaith wings to slightly open a lift ready to beat down in a moments notice. Every muscle in her body to tense. The end of her tail quivered as she wanted for the command. As the fist fell, great green wing fell with it. Launching the pair skyward.

[F'rendil]

Newly appointed Weyrling Master and Wingleader Ra'shin astride his brown Soreynth grunted when the ditzy green Kaith launched before he gave the signal. New leadership always had glitches. The green went before her Wingleader told her and the rest of the Lower Flight to attack. No discipline. Soreynth's eyes were bright red swirling balls of hate. Ra'shin told his dragon, Tell them to look sharp! Keep formation and their attention up. Ready their firestone. Let no clump fall below us. Soreynth sent his message to the dragons to the rest of the Queen's Wing in fewer words. Fight! Stay together. We live, it dies.

[F'rendil]

Earlier...

They waited, perched on one of the high plateaus not far from the beach. F'rendil tugged at the edges of his riding jacket's collar. He reached a hand out to steady the two firestone bags balanced in front of him. Under him, T'wenth rumbled and shifted to one side as he swung his long neck around to regard F'rendil with one eye. Orange swirled through the facets. The rider offered the dragon another bag of firestone, the second to last from the pile in front of him. He leaned only a little, and held the bag high enough for T'wenth to take it. The dragon turned to face forward and munched on his firestone snack, prepping himself to summon his fire.

A cold wind whipped across the scene. F'rendil hunched his shoulders. He slid his gloved hands into the space between his jacket and the thick garments he wore underneath. At the last moment, he paused and pressed his hand palm-flat against his chest. He patted his chest. Something at this moment caused him to look down for a heartbeat. F'rendil searched for something in earnest. Going so far as to lift his googles and open his jacket with his other hand, he peered underneath his jacket. Something at this moment caused him to laugh. He fastened his riding jacket with a fading chuckle. Someone within hearing range might overhear F'rendil remark. "Oh, that's right, I leant it to her."


Now...

When K'ivan's fist dropped and Baizynth roared, T'wenth answered his Weyrleader's challenge with more tenor reply. Just as fierce and full of thoughts of death for their Enemy. Orange burned through into red and the brown trembled. Seconds later, Wingleader Vilonth too released the Storm Brink Wing. T'wenth followed the bronzes into the fray. T'wenth kept the bronze Vilonth on his right as they went into the midst of the Shimmer. As soon as they encountered the first wave, the brown set his sights on finding the closest clump, ready to burn it to ash.

[D'nel]

Carona waited, her eyes closed as she focused herself and her dragon Surperith. It was a ritual they went through for every Fall, but was really needed for this one. It was going to take every ounce of energy and endurance she and her green had to make it the full four hours. Even with taking breaks, she knew they would be spent by the end, which is when mistakes could happen,and they couldn't afford to make any of those. She opened her eyes and looked toward her twin, R'dan, who turned in her direction at the same time, and their eyes met as if he knew she was thinking of him. A'rzl and Kaith’s premature flight distracted her, and she shook her head at her fellow green’s impetuousness.

Do not fret, Surperith said. Voraideth says he and his will not let any clumps through. We need only worry about stray strands. Carona looked back to her twin, but his eyes were already on his flight leader, waiting for the signal. She couldn’t help but smile as Surperith passed on Ra’shin’s and Soreynth’s words before taking off to join the rest of their wing.



R’dan and Voraideth watched the skies as the silvery strands of thread grew closer. Though R’dan watched, his mind was elsewhere. There was no shimmering gold to impress with his prowess anymore. But he still had competition, at least in his mind. The new bronze rider, D’nel, was young and his dragon was surprisingly quick in the one practice they had. The young harper had beat him and Voraideth to a few clumps was bad enough, but to hear Carona and few of the others talk about him the night before, and even say he was easy on the eyes was enough for him to see a rival in the works. But he would not be beat! He was the son of Lord Herron of White Sands Hold! No young upstart was going to show him up!

R’dan thoughts were broken suddenly as he felt something and turned to look at Carona. Even though they were opposites in most things, they shared a connection, and he could always tell when something was bothering her, like now. Tell Surperith Carona has nothing to fret about. We will take care of the clumps. She just needs to clean up, he told Voraideth.

Voraideth joined in with Baizynth and the other dragons, roaring loudly. R’dan watched B’tren for the signal to take off. The moment it was given, he and Voraideth took off, following F’rendil and T’wenth. He took his place to the left of B’tren and Vilonth. Fire burned hot in Voraideth's stomach as he readied to see the first clump to come within their reach.

[Thread!]

Wisps and tangles of Thread became present all around the leading dragonriders. Silver strands continued their relentless downward spiral. Carried on the cold wind the clumps of tangled threads came from the northeast and above. The fighters in the upper flight had no choice but to engage with the spore. Eager Voraideth and T'wenth did not have to wait long as multiple strands fell toward them, both from above and from the left. Several large clumps that at some point broke from the cloud, drifted toward the dragonriders from their left. This put Voraideth in one of the more vulnerable positions. Nothing yet fell near or within attack range of the lower altitude; however, those below had an excellent vantage point on the fight above them.

[D'nel]

D’nel felt a little nervous as watched the silver shimmer get closer. It wasn’t threadfall that worried him. This was his first Fall in a new Weyr, under not only a new Wingleader, but new Weyrleader! He hadn't felt this kind of pressure since his tests to qualify for Journeyman. He felt Ebonth rumble with amusement underneath him.

You worry too much, the bronze said. We did well in practice. We will do well now, like always.

You're right, of course, D'nel repliedband patted his lifemate affectionately.

Of course. Ebonth's smug voice echoed in D'nel's head just before Baizynth's challenge. D'nel turned his gaze to V'rdro waiting for the signal. The moment it was given, Ebonth launched into the air, his wings catching an updraft and taking him into the sky. They took up formation on Bieyzometh's right, watchful for their quarry.

[A'ric]

A'ric had no thoughts of silly greens or Weyr gossip. No thoughts of the injured (former) Crashing Seas residents he had till this morning served. Both rider and dragon focused only on the Threadfall before them, and the signals given by the Weyrleader. Echoing the challenging roar when the Weyrleader launched them into the air, so did the veteran bronze. The rush of bloodlust filled A'ric's mind, a pale echo compared to the red within his dragon's mind. As with any dragon, t'was only A'ric's will prevented Caldreth from rushing into the fray without thought for his own safety. Such was the power of the hatred toward the Thread.

Apart from the wings in formation, the duo flew directly to the Weyrleader's right, not far from and slightly in front of Wingleader Bieyzometh. As the Flight Healer, their responsibility lay in both paying attention to Threadfall and the other dragonriders to be alert if their dragons should fall to the threads. Should this occur, the Flight Healer broke formation to assist the fallen dragonrider immediately. None did yet, for only a few engaged Thread.

However, soon, all too soon, the threads fell upon all of them. When they came upon the 'Fall, A'ric and Caldreth found themselves emerged instantly within the Thread. Everywhere. Nowhere was safe now. All was fight, or die.Caldreth's fiery breath billowed outward. He seared a clump that threatened their air space. Whilst the two battled, too did A'ric keep wary watch on the other dragonriders. Warn Gamath! Sent he to his dragon.

Gamath, your right flank! Sent Caldreth to the Flight Second, and he watched as the other bronze responded in kind by swinging his massive head toward the clump. It burned into crack dust, fluttering remains of the formerly dangerous spore, now ash to fall upon the Flight below them. Afterwards, Caldreth swept forward into his flanking position again and returned to protecting Baizynth's flank.

[Narrator]

NPC J'raya and Gamath

Before - Shameful...Since the practice, they'd been off. The only pair to be "scored", the bronzerider felt still the humiliation of the event. We will be fine. Gamath reassured him. But are you sure? J'raya didn't doubt his dragon believed that they'd be fine, but the question remained in his head, would they be fine? For such a thing to happen, we must be off. We're getting old. Gamath grunted, noncommittal to his rider's announcement. In the next instant, Baizynth roared his challenge and all was red and Gamath knew only the lust for destroying the enemy. His programming pushed aside worries of what happened yesterday.

Now - Humans; however, are not programmed. Go! Commanded J'raya, echoing his Weyrleader's command to Gamath. Even as they rode into the Threadfall, the Flight Second gnawed at the event that occurred at practice. Even as he turned 'round to check the Cloud Cover's flight formation, he felt the "score" on his arm where the crimson practice ribbon draped over his biceps and slithered down his thigh. Felt it burn into him. It caused him to worry about the "what ifs - " to distraction, a distraction that reflected upon Gamath whose attention strayed ever so from the battle.

Even the vague awareness that his rider worried still drove Gamath to distraction.

Gamath, your right flank! Shouted Caldreth.

Gamath reacted to the warning instantly with a surprised snarl. The large bronze veered to the left, enough to dodge the clump, and he snapped his head 'round to spray his arching fire onto the clump, withering it to ashes. We need to focus! Said Gamath to J'raya, half in reassurance and half in anger. J'raya nodded his agreement. Yes, yes. We'll focus... let's go! Following his dragon's lead, J'raya focused on the fight.

Did his best to focus on the fight...

[Thread!]

The sky above greyed and more silvery sheets appeared, covering the northeastern sky. Thread clumps descended among the Cloud Cover Flight, all around them, though the heaviest concentration remained on the left flank. A small clump of tangled, angry strands twisted its way toward T'wenth's flank. Another twirled toward Ebonth from above. Two threatened to collide upon bronze Voraidith. Elsewhere in the sky, more Thread loomed as great clouds of mist. But 'twas not mist. Rather a second wave of Thread that drifted on the icy wind toward the ground. It fell far to the left of the dragonrider formation, alone above undefended space...

[Ariana]

Kelessa of Blue Wilmith - Storm Front Wing

Before
Practice had gone with only a few hitches, but Kelessa and Wilmith made it through with only a little ash on themselves. Changing formations was always hard during the first run through, add in new dragons and it made it a challenge. All in all it was ok. Kelessa was worried about the length of time Wilmith would have to be airborne and fighting. Sure the greens always dropped off long before the blues, however they would have to push to make it to their first time slot. I will rest on the tallest peak. Anything that comes our way I will BURN. I know. Just remember to set a pace. Just like chasing, can't caught a queen if you use all your energy in the first few seconds. Wilmith snorted, he knew he could out fly any other blue. He had to before he went back in time to bring the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman forward.

Now
Baizynth's roar was met with one from the blue ranks. They had started on a high plateau, a peak that reached just into the flight level they would be covering. At V'rdro command they took to the sky. Swiftly catching up into place behind and to the right of D'nel. Wilmith arched his neck upwards to blast the clump headed for Ebonth's back and rider. Not wanting to risk scoring, Wilmith called to the Bronze. Ebonth above! Kelessa's head was on a swivel. Checking this way and that seeking out what other threads threatened the wings.

[S'yloa]

Between the political turmoil S'yloa caused over the last few days combined with the exhausting Search, Threadfall felt like a breeze. A relief. Nothing else to think about but fight and survive. Behind his riding goggles, S'yloa narrowed his eyes as he looked up, and watched IT march toward them. I hope Jannasper will be all right.. Mmm... yes, I hope Ebonth makes it through the 'Fall. Voraidith too. Under him, Engmyth rumbled a laugh but her amused chuckle transformed in an instant to a deep growl. Well, for a lady. Her voice rose to join the battle chorus and she bellowed with the same strength she used when teasing her would-be mates. When the Cloud Cover rose with the Weyrleader's command, S'yloa and Engmyth hesitated.

Watching the green Jaryrath rise into the air was like seeing a ghost. I thought T'viz one of the dead...but I've been distracted. So, maybe not? That random thought drifted through S'yloa's mind as Engmyth asked him. Should we go? Her question caused S'yloa to realize they'd been transferred to the Storm Brink wing in the Cloud Cover Flight, which in this Threadfall counted as the High Flight. First to go, oh no! Go, Myth, go! She launched herself into the air and with several hearty upward wingbeats, joined her new wingmates. Fortunately, their positioning at the end of the wing meant the green delayed no one else. She took her place behind Kobaleth's handsome blue butt. Another ghost 'rider...I thought H'lak lost too...

Far to the right and at the back of this new wing, their position allowed them to watch the others drift on the wing and spread slowly out as they began covering more aerial territory. Engmyth kept Kobaleth in sight. Minutes ticked by, heartbeats, hours. S'yloa lost track of time. He was only aware of the shifting wind and the way the dangerous spores drifted closer and closer to his friends. He watched from afar as he family engaged. Engmyth bobbed up and down to ease some of her tension, tilted her wings this way and that to keep up with the currents. The green dragonpair floated on impatient wings for it to come close enough to them to attack it. It's so far over there. And we're so far up. The air is thinner here. S'yloa replied. This is going to be tough, Myth. We have to make sure to rest. Rest? It will reach us soon, growled the green dragon, ignoring her rider's concerns. Her rider felt her murderous desires, and as always it surprised him that his gentle green bore such hatred toward the Thread.