Just Our Luck

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 23rd July 2025

Characters: R'fal, Z'ku
Description: R'fal has a chance to save another rider during the stormy Threadfall...but it's Z'ku
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 28 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Pierka, S'kand

Z'ku

}:We must go back. The rain is stopping.:{

R'fal's heart sank. Although the Fall hadn't lasted long so far, it had been a constant battle to stay in the formation amid the gusting winds, at the same time keeping alert for silver clumps of Thread tumbling through the swirling damp sheets of mist and steeling himself for the screams of injured wingmates, and he sensed his dragon's fatigue through their bond, deep in his own limbs. Far below in the Weyr, he knew the dragonhealers would be hastily patching up injuries, and he wished for a moment he could be down there with them.

But his place was with his Wing.

He raised his arm to one of the young riders circling nearby and braced himself in the straps to catch a fresh firestone sack, then leaned forward to toss stone into Marlath's gaping maw. He felt his lifemate's jaws grinding, the building anticipation of flame, and his spirits rose, the dragon's urge to fight cutting through his weariness. **Ready?**

}:I am ready. Thadath and Aeoluth are both out for the Fall, we need to move up.:{

R'fal resisted the temptation to ask after them, knowing it would distract his dragon when they'd be going /between/ any moment. He visualized their new place in the formation, up front with only the Wingleader and Wingsecond's bronzes ahead, the grim thought that they'd be jumping into the middle of Fall focusing his mind. When the signal came, they jumped together into the frozen dark of /between/ - and back out into a howling gale which caught Marlath's wings and nearly sent him tumbling into the neighboring brown. With a growl, he fought his way back just as the leading edge was on them again, and released a gout of flame into a few loose silver strands that had escaped the higher altitude Wing.

Z'ku faced Fall with grim determination. Gusts of wind battered them, making Xemroth struggle to stay in formation. He tried not to think of Pierka up there in the Weyrleader's Wing and how this weather must be tossing her tiny green around. He had to focus on his own Wing and try to keep everyone alive.

Xemroth neatly seared a strand of Thread during a momentary lull, but the wind kicked up again and they had to dive for a tangle. To Z'ku's eyes it was barely a glimmer in the dark sky, but Xemroth saw it clearly. What neither of them saw was a large clump of Thread coming at them from above.

Behind them, the brown pair had steadied their position in the formation and seared a few more falling strands. Thunder rolled in the distance as R'fal brushed the mist of raindrops from his goggles with the back of his glove and searched for his next target. Shells, he hoped that that distant rumble meant heavier rain before long. Should he give Marlath more firestone now while they had a breathing space? Ahead of them was only open sky where Xemroth had been. He tilted his head back, looking up...

**Marlath!**

The brown surged forward, R'fal screaming over the tearing wind to Z'ku to look out as the writhing silver-grey tangle filled his vision. Then, just as he'd imagined in childhood dreams of riding dragons, Marlath roared and white-hot fire blazed from his jaws, the Thread blackening and curling into a choking cloud of ash as he used up the last of his flame. A knot of fear tightened in his chest. Would there be enough?

Something hot fell against Xemroth's back and he hissed, but it was only a minor pain, not the terrible burn of Thread. Z'ku twisted around to see hot ash blackening his dragon's green-gold hide, and a dusting of it over the back of his riding jacket. He sent Xemroth /between/ anyway to be sure and to cool the charred remains spread across his bronze's back. If that had been live Thread . . .

They came out back in position. }:Thank you, Marlath. Mine says thank you, too.:{

Ugh, of all the people, why that brownrider? But better that than Thread sending them to the infirmary, or worse.

The brown backwinged to return to his place in the formation, and having exhausted his flame, turned his head back for more firestone, eyes glowing crimson in triumph at his destruction of the enemy. }:Xemroth and his rider say thank you.:{

R'fal glanced up again to check for Thread, then leaned forward in his straps to feed Marlath the last of the stone in his sack. He rolled his eyes. **Yeah, right. He's probably annoyed we got ash on his clean jacket.** He'd had a perfect chance to save someone, and it had to be that bronzerider. **Just our luck it was them and not a gorgeous green pair.**

Marlath rumbled in amusement and faced forward again, searching the sky for more tangles. This was no time to get distracted, and both dragon and rider put the incident behind them and focused in on the fight.

Fall always seemed to last forever and yet hardly any time at all. By the time the rain began to come down in drenching sheets, the brown pair were too exhausted from the struggle to keep their position in the teeth of the gale to feel anything but relief. R'fal closed his eyes as they blinked into the welcoming silence of /between/ and back out into the rain over Dolphin Cove. He wanted to go back to his weyr and sleep until the Pass was over, but he'd have to go to the dragonhealers first. They'd need all the hands they could get, even apprentices. Hopefully they'd have klah...

The fact that he possibly owed R'fal his life left a bitter taste in Z'ku's mouth. He sat atop Xemroth and wrestled with his feelings, and eventually his sense of honor won out. He dismounted, removing his helmet as he strode up to the brownrider. "Thank you, R'fal. That clump would have hit us if not for you and Marlath."

R'fal was so tired that he'd forgotten all about the Thread clump, and when Marlath had warned him of Z'ku approaching he'd braced himself for being told off for some minor mistake. He blinked at the bronzerider, then remembered. For an instant he was tempted to gloat, but immediately thought better of it. Not today. "Ah - no problem, Wingsecond. You'd do the same for us..." That last sounded a little uncertain.

"It's our duty to look out for each other. Still, I'm . . ." Z'ku forced himself to go on, "grateful for your and Marlath's quick thinking." He cleared his throat. "I need to check with S'kand about our casualties."

"And I need to report to the Master Dragonhealer," R'fal said hastily, relieved at the chance to escape. "If you'll excuse me, Wingsecond?"

"You're dismissed, Wingrider." Z'ku said with a slight nod. There. He'd swallowed his pride and his dislike of the young man long enough to be gracious. Now he could move on to other things.

Last updated on the July 29th 2025

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Just Our Luck