It's Time, Bluerider

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 29th March 2006

Characters: Y'sani, D'cal
Description: Y'sani gives D'cal encouragement as they wait for his turn to be Blooded
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 4 of Turn 3

D'cal took another deep breath as he checked Aosorath's riding straps one more time. He looked up as an injured dragon blinked into the sky above them, screaming his pain and alarm. Other dragons swept in to slow their descent. The brown's wingsail looked positively shredded. A shudder ran down the weyrling's spine.

}:Don't worry, D'cal. It won't be us. :{ Aosorath reassured his rider.

**Of course not.** He scratched the little blue's neck affectionately.
**You're too good for that.** D'cal took another deep breath to calm himself. It was so hard just _waiting_.

"How are you doing?" asked a quiet voice from behind him. Y'sani stepped up next to him, his eyes fixed on the brown dragon who had appeared in the sky. The Weyrlingmaster's usually laid-back expression was gone today, replaced by a focused intensity.

"I'm fine, sir," the weyrling said with the shadow of a smile.
"Aosorath's ready."

"Of course he is," Y'sani replied, tearing his eyes from the sky to glance at the young man next to him. "You wouldn't be flying today if he weren't."

D'cal nodded solemnly. He knew he had to trust Aosorath, and trust his training. "How much longer do you think it will be, sir? Until I'm needed?"

Y'sani glanced back at the sky as another dragon blinked in from /between/. The move was instinctive, even though he knew Luthinath would tell him if one of his weyrlings had been injured. "Not long now. It's a nice regular Fall with no surprises."

"How are the others doing?" the weyrling asked, his eyes following the bronzerider's into the sky.

"Very well. Not that I expected anything else." Which was only half the truth. He'd accepted the reports of three injured weyrlings from Luthinath easily enough, but the knot in his stomach would remain until all of the weyrlings were accounted for. In the first turns after Thread's return, the casualty rates had been terrifyingly high. Then he would have rejoiced in knowing that everyone was still alive... It didn't seem like enough anymore.

"We're next, then?" D'cal glanced over at the sacks of firestone strapped and ready on Aosorath's back. He knew it was called _Blooding_ for a reason. He just hoped that it wouldn't come to that in his case. Or anyone's.

Y'sani looked back at D'cal, and his expression shifted to an encouraging smile. "It's time, bluerider." Extending a hand to D'cal, the Weyrlingmaster nodded. "I'll see you at the end of Threadfall."

"Yes, sir," D'cal nodded as he took the Weyrlingmaster's hand. He released it quickly, afraid the man could feel his shaking through the weyrhide gloves. The weyrling was proud that he was at least able to make a skilled leap into place on his blue's neck and quickly fastened the straps.

**Nuarth's rider needs more stone. He says we should hurry,** Aosorath said, his voice filled with excitement but without a hint of fear.

He gave Y'sani a quick salute. "Let's go boy." Despite the large knot of fear, he willed his eyes to remain open as his dragon's muscles bunched and then catapulted them aloft, but they were squeezed tight shut as they entered /between/.

~*~

Last updated on the March 30th 2006

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It's Time, Bluerider