Only a Moment (1/3): Distracted
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Devin, Bree
Date Posted: 3rd July 2006
Series: Saving Each Other
Characters: Talryne, N'vanik
Description: Talryne learns that even the slightest bit of inattention during
Threadfall can be devastating.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 2 of Turn 3
Fighting Thread was an incredible release. It was something that could be fought, killed, burned into bits of crumbling ash. And this destruction was a good thing, a necessary thing. It saved homes, crops even lives. **The only really good thing I do,** N'vanik thought as Loseth shifted to meet a tangle. }:This is what we are meant to do,:{ the bronze said, his voice tinged with aggression as he flamed his age-old enemy.
Behind and a bit below him, Talryne's head whipped to the side as Ysanth wrenched them to the side and flamed a tangle that had been coming at them from the side. Shaking her head, Talryne tossed more firestone to Ysanth as her neck twisted back, chiding herself for getting distracted. }:Now is the time for fighting,:{ Ysanth agreed, as Talryne forced herself to stare straight ahead. In the beginning, she'd been so terrified of Thread that she'd been unable to think of anything from the time they took off until the time they landed. Just under a turn of fighting Thread had worn off the terror, though, without giving her the respect that some of the older riders had. As much as she _knew_ she couldn't get distracted, sometimes she couldn't help herself...
She usually wasn't behind N'vanik, though, and watching him and Loseth fight Thread was a shock. She'd always accepted him as the bad boy, the rebel who didn't want to follow the wingleader and didn't care who knew it. But he and Loseth were amazing in the air, and it gave her a new respect for the man.
The bronze pair moved a bit higher to catch another clump of Thread. In seconds, the silvery mass was nothing but char. N'vanik glanced around quickly, checking the air around them. The wing was flying in the highest position today and the bronzerider was even more alert than usual. Looking up, he saw a large tangle falling straight toward them. It was close. Too close. **Loseth!** The bronze responded immediately, taking them /between/.
Beneath them, Talryne ducked lower on Ysanth's neck as she twisted to char another clump of Thread. A thrill ran through Talryne as the mass fell away in blackened char, and Ysanth turned her head again for more firestone.
Talryne turned her head for a moment, groping at the firestone sack at her side, not noticing as the large tangle fell through the empty space that had been so recently occupied by Loseth.
It was only a moment, but it turned out to be too long. The next few moments were a blur--Ysanth's shriek, dropping the firestone, agony that could have belonged to either of them, and her frantic command, **/Between/, /between/, /between/, Ysanth! /Between/!**
Above them, Loseth reentered the sky and N'vanik heard the shriek of a dragon in pain. Even before he looked, his stomach clenched with fear. The shriek had come from _below_ them. He only caught a glimpse, but it was enough. Ysanth's body was covered with writhing, devouring Thread. **NO!
NO!** "Talryne!" he screamed as the pair winked /between/.
Last updated on the July 3rd 2006
Series: Saving Each Other [Next: Only a Moment (2/3): The Kindest Thing]