Leaf on the Wind

Writers: Avery, Sia
Date Posted: 12th July 2025

Characters: I'rad, E'tariax, P'odke
Description: I’rad struggles during a challenging Threadfall.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 28 of Turn 12
Notes: Follows DCW: Raging Skies

**I’m scared,** I’rad thought repeatedly during the Fall. He’d hoped the rain and the wind would be enough to get them out of having to fly at all. Maybe it would be enough to drown the Thread. Or maybe it would be enough that only other blues would be called up. He was really nervous, and trying to keep Echovath from feeling it.

The blue didn’t understand his rider’s perspective at all, even if he felt the emotions. He had a calm temperament most days, with little ruffling him, and so I’rad could draw strength from him when he was nervous. When it was time for Threadfall, he would get the instinctive draconic rage against the ancient enemy. He wanted to fight and fly and destroy, leaving no space for nervous worrying, but also no calm for I’rad to pull on either. So he just sat there stewing as they waited to fly.

When they were called up, he was quickly too busy to think properly in Fall like he normally could. There were clumps everywhere that they could sear, more than he was used to seeing falling to their level. The higher wings usually did better, didn’t they? He sometimes felt like their wing was cleanup duty - well, not as much as Queen’s wing was, but still, lower wings never felt like they had as much to do. But today it felt like Echovath was lunging more than usual towards much bigger clumps. Maybe because the rain meant that the Thread was clumped together and falling like thick wet mats, heavy and harder to scorch fully. More than once his flames hit it dead-on and then crisped it, illuminating it in a halo of dragon-fire that seared the edges but left a smaller clump still falling below.

And the winds! Poor Echovath was fighting against it every time he lunged for a clump to flame, whether it was being tumbled to the side by a gust knocking him off-balance, or having to try to fly into the wind to get at a clump, or to dodge out of the way of a wingmate who was also blown out of the way. He was tired already and their shift wasn’t done. There was rain in his eyes. He wanted to go home.

And they were so close to making it home, too. I’rad was relieved when the rain was enough that the Weyrleader called a halt to the flying. It looked like maybe the rain would take care of it all for them. Maybe they could go home and rest. Maybe…

}:Our Wingleader says it’s time to go again.:{

Shards. Echovath was tired. He was tired. Briefly I’rad considered sitting the rest of the Fall out. There were still some reserves left in the wing - more blues or greens who could swap in. But there was only a little bit left to go.

He thought they had enough flame and energy to make it through to the end, but they didn’t, and Echovath had to call for more stone.When they got firestone, the rider who delivered it was an older rider, P’odke and his brown Traketh. They appeared above them, and P’odke yelled, “Are you ready?” When I’rad signaled yes, the brownrider threw a sack. The sack was blown off course and missed I’rad’s hands, despite the bluerider leaning over to try to reach for it.

Shardit, P’odke was old and had a bad arm, and while the winds surely weren’t helping, that was such a bad throw that wasted firestone! And I’rad needed the stone. Echovath winged a little closer. Worried it’d miss again, I’rad unclipped his main straps, leaving only the long safety tether hooked. They couldn’t afford to miss another bag.

P’odke threw. The bag arched and began to fall short again - I’rad reached his hands out as Echovath swerved to help him get it - he was half out of his the saddle but the strap had him and he had the bag -

}:Look out!:{ screamed their trio partner, green Ihlath, as a giant clump of Thread fell towards them. Ihlath lunged to burn it, but couldn’t flame it because Traketh was in the way.

Echovath twisted rapidly to avoid the Thread he’d been warned about, and the motion knocked I’rad fully out of the saddle, so he twisted from the safety straps. The bluerider was going to pull himself up, but then there was another tangle of Thread, which Traketh seared with the small amount of firestone the delivery dragons had to protect themselves with, and it didn’t get all of it.

A massive mat of burning Thread fell downwards onto Echovath’s back and left wing, punching straight through the wing, while some of it wrapped around the ridges and into the spine. Some of it severed the saddle and straps, including the safety strap I’rad had been dangling from. The blue screeched and twisted in agony as ichor poured from him, screaming and going /between/.

E'tariax rode low on Aphirith's neck, eyes narrowed behind his goggles. His bad leg would scream in protest later, but for now adrenaline dulled it to a dull ache of muscles working into overtime. These weren't the good Threadfalls, but these were the ones he _truly_ enjoyed flying.

}: There! :{ Aphirith called, more a mental pull than any real words.

E'tariax snapped his head around and spotted the shape tumbling through the air, high above. With practiced precision, the green blinked /between/ and reappeared high in the air above them. She tucked her wings tight against her sides and dropped into a freefall after them. The wind clawed at them, tried to shove them sideways. Aphirith roared, correcting with a rough twist to the left that threw E'tariax hard in the straps. He fumbled with them a moment before unhooking the ones keeping him planted in the saddle. One hand grasped tightly on the safety, he leaned dangerously far off Aphirith's side and reached out for the falling rider.

I’rad had pictured the ocean outside of the Weyr as soon as Echovath was hit, hoping they’d get /between/ in time. He dropped the bag of firestone as soon as he was cut loose from his dragon. Something was covering him in heat. He was hanging onto consciousness by the skin of his teeth. He was falling through the sky. A hand was reaching to him. He was able to grab onto it, sobbing.

Aphirith dropped lower, a stomach-churning dip that helped E'tariax pull himself and I'rad back onto her neckridge. Shit. This was just a kid, almost the same age as his own children. "We got you, lad." He shouted over the wind as he reached over to lock him in place the best he could. With the straps as they were, E'tariax would need to keep holding onto him until they were groundside.

The bluerider’s leg had been hit and his pants were smoking and he was crying desperately, clinging to the rider who grabbed him.

**Send to I'rad's dragon,** E'tariax pictured the space above the Weyr.

}: He's gone. :{ Aphirith answered.

That hit like a gut punch. E'tariax clutched the kid tighter and commanded Aphirith to go.

They blinked /between/, home.

Last updated on the July 29th 2025

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Leaf on the Wind