Ghost Ship (1) - A Ship

Writers: Suzee, Paula, Eimi
Date Posted: 4th October 2017

Characters: Naton, Raghad, D'arvn, Torwald
Description: While on a sweep, D'arvn discovers a ship washed aground.
Location: Citrus Bay Hold
Date: month 13, day 4 of Turn 8
Notes: 1 in a series

D'arvn

D'arvn yawned. They'd been in the air almost as long as they could
without resting when Falzeth bugled. **What?**

}:A ship:{

He angled his wings and began a spiral down toward where the ship had
obviously been tossed by the storm. This is the kind of thing he'd
been on the outlook for. He didn't see anyone waving to him though he
did see a couple of unmoving bodies in unnatural positions.

He formed the picture of Citrus Bay, which was the nearest Hold of any
size and soon he was spiraling into the main plaza atop the bluff.

Lookouts called out the dragons arrival and Raghad emerged from his
office to investigate. His flit flew to greet his much bigger cousin.
The Hold had already started to rebuild the tsunami and earthquake
-damage.

"Ah, Holder Raghad, there you are," Naton said, slowing his stride
when he noticed him emerge from his office. He was just the person he
was coming to see. The Master Dolphineer had been heading up the
salvage crew at Citrus Bay and the Seacrafter Hall. It had been hard
to see the damage done to the Hall where he had spent so much time
while developing his underwater light. At least now it was proving
useful! He had wanted to update the Holder on their progress, but he
apparently had something else on his mind. "Is now a bad time?"

D'arvn jogged up the steps two at a time and saluted the Holder as he
arrived. He noted the Dolphineer and nodded in his direction. "Good,"
he didn't smile for his news wasn't good. "Sir," he turned his
attention back to the Holder. "Bluerider D'arvin. I was riding storm
sweeps around this area and have found a grounded ship on an island to
the north east." He pointed over his shoulder. "I didn't see any
survivors so I came here immediately for help."

"Master Naton, I seem to have visitors from left and right," Raghad
replied to the dolphineer before turning to greet the dragonrider, "My
duty to you, bluerider. Grounded ship you said?" Like all people whose
hearing was weakening, he was talking with loud voice. "Northeast ?"
He mentally summoned the map of the area into his mind. "if it's in
Citrus Bay's waters, that would be Treacherous Shoals, very nasty
place to navigate. Good fishing spot, though, if you know the area."

Naton's brow knit together. "No survivors, you say? The ship was
empty?" There were plenty of reasons why a crew might abandon their
ship, leaving it to drift on the ocean currents until it grounded
itself. But if that was the case, that could mean there was a crew
lost at sea somewhere and a rescue party would need to be formed.

"None that I could see from the air, no sir. But I was there only 5
minutes ago and could be back in the same amount of time if you'd like
me to take anyone?" He looked back and forth between the Holder and
Master Dolphineer.

"That would be very kind of you, bluerider," Raghad replied. He was
old enough to have lived thru the Plagues so he was conjuring up all
kind of unpleasant scenarios. "Any precautions we could take? Just in
case the crew has succumbed to some illness." He called Wind Watcher
to him mentally and the blue obediently landed on his shoulder. "How
many passengers you can take?" He asked from D'arvn, planning on
sending one of his own men to investigate.

"Sir," Naton interrupted, "If I may. Could I take a look? I might be
able to lend my expertise here."

Raghad nodded. "But you also need someone who knows the local waters
and can calculate the ship's course," Raghad pointed out. "Wind, fetch
Torwald," he pictured the young seacrafter, his daughter's husband.
Fortunately, he was at home right now and not on a ship somewhere half
across the Pern's oceans.

"Falzeth is strong for a blue," D'arvn nodded. "But I can take two
besides me. We should probably go quickly."

"If you can take Torwald and Naton to investigate, I would be very
grateful," Raghad said to D'arvn. He had all intentions of claiming
the salvage rights for the ship's cargo, since it was on his
territorial waters.

Torwald appeared soon, a young man in mid-twenties. Raghad brought him
up to date and gave him his instructions.

"Gentlemen," D'arvn nodded again. "If you'll follow me, we can put
some supplies in the cargo nets," he said as he pulled one out of his
pack and strung it along Falzeth's side.

"I just need my eyes and my birthday suit for this trip," The dolphineer said. It really wasn't worth running back to get just his swim trunks.

"We actually have some diving gear here at the Hold, if you need to
borrow something," Torwald told him after nodding to D'arvn.

"Most of what I will need to know will be in the shallows, but thank
you. It might come in handy later." All Naton could really do on his
own was sound the ship to make sure it was not taking in water from
below the surface.

"Do be careful out there," Raghad said to them all.

"Yes sir," D'arvn touched his forelock then turned to his lifemate to
help the others mount. "If you can sit there," he pointed to a place
between neckridges and watched as Torwald climbed into position and
checked the straps. "And you sir," he turned to the Master Dolphineer.
"Right behind him."

Naton swung his leg over the blue's neckridge in a fluid movement.
He'd had plenty of practice riding dragons as of late, but he still
allowed the bluerider to handle the riding straps. "Ready," he nodded
once he had been secured. It was time to see what this ship was
about.

Torwald had never ridden a dragon before and the young seacrafter did
his best to hide his nervousness.

"Just hold on to the rider, like this," Naton said as he gripped the
riding straps of the young seacrafter sitting in front of him. "Don't
worry, he won't care. Ready back here, D'arvn."

"Hold on as tight as you like," D'arvn smirked where Torwald couldn't
see. "Here we go," and Falzeth leapt into the sky.

Torwald did squeezed D'arvn and closed his eyes then the dragon
leaped. He couldn't resist his curiousity and opened them. He was
offered a fine aerial view of Citrus Bay.

Raghad gave them a farewell wave and retreated back indoors to wait
for them to come back.

Naton enjoyed the view, too, but he was not looking forward to the
short trip /between/ they'd soon be taking. Leaning forward, he
raised his voice for Torwald to hear over the sound of wingbeats and
rushing air. "When everything goes dark, don't panic. Just start
counting and think about every number as you say it. It will be over
soon enough."

Last updated on the November 2nd 2017

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Ghost Ship (1) - A Ship