Set Fire To The Rain [Threadfall]

[Zen]

10th Pass, 6th Turn, 3rd Month

A'zael :: Bronze Fath

The day was overcast at Mavros, but over the Western Continent where they would soon be fighting Thread? A steady rain had been falling all day; each report from the sweep riders was the same. Spring was beginning to show itself, but it was still cold on the more northern Western Continent, especially to be out in the rain for several hours. A'zael was sure plenty of riders would be catching a chill after this fight. Wonderful. The need for more riders, enough to form relief Wings, struck him again and his stomach churned at the thought of the upcoming plan for Timing It. They needed to take the risk, of that he was certain at this point. But it would do little to help them right now. With Threadfall looming he supposed a chill was the least of their concerns anyway. If that was all his riders came away with then he'd count himself pleased.

The new riders seemed to be settling into their Wings well enough at this point, and they'd had a number of short Falls to gain fighting experience. This would be their first long Fall, but with how they'd handled the shorter Falls thus far he wasn't much concerned. There'd been scoring but nothing too serious, and they were all still alive, so that was enough. He had flown out with B'rax and X'ar a half hour before Fall was due to start, to get a final, personal take on the conditions they'd be facing, and cold and wet it would be.

There was no rhetoric on A'zael's part this time. Again he trusted his wingseconds to see the Wing ready, to convey the strategy and conditions for the day and inspect riding straps, to ensure everyone was indeed fit to fly and loaded with firestone. And as he joined his Wing, Rau and G'brel both informed him the Wing was ready and he gave the signal to take to the air. Each Wing quickly shifted into formation and soon enough winked away, reappearing over the Western Continent, the cold, steady rain there to greet them. Gale and Gust Wings left Breeze and Zephyr below, settling in at altitude as the first strands of Thread began to fall just off the coast, harmlessly into the sea.

It wasn't long before flames erupted above from Gust Wing's dragons and Fath growled under him, eyes whirling red, as the first strands of Thread escaped past the higher wing. The rain obscured visibility some, but it didn't affect the dragons nearly as bad as their riders. Fath rumbled and A'zael let him loose, a burst of flame erupting from his great maw as Thread finally reached their ranks.

Talaria :: Green Tanith

Tanith growled near constantly as they soared far below the fighting in the Queen's Wing. She was never pleased that she was not among the fighting Wings, but Talaria's status as a dragonhealer kept them in reserve, ready to leave at any moment to put her skills to better use. They had, in the past, been called in to take someone's place in the higher wings, when they had far fewer riders, but with the graduation of the Spring Storms class, it was less likely they would be needed in that capacity. Instead they took up the task of fetching firestone if and until they were needed back at the Weyr to tend the injured.

I am wasted here. I should be searing Thread up there.

We all have a part to play, Tanith.

Yes, I imagine it does not bother you half so much, does it? You get to play in the Queen's Wing and pretend you are something you are not.

Talaria gritted her teeth at the jab, You know that is hardly it!

Another growl was the only response from the green, and that was just fine with Talaria.

A'zael: Blue
Talaria: Gold
NPC: Gray

Threadfall Specifics
Standard Fall. Breezy day with stray gusts and steady rain. Average Threadfall. It will be a full 4 hour Fall, meaning the greens and blues will be rotating and Gale Wing's Reserve riders will be on standby, with several of them tasked with delivering firestone since there are no weyrlings old enough to do so, along with a few riders from each of the other Wings (NPCs or Benched Characters). As the Fall is 4 hours, it also means the Wings will be rotating position (I will mark when the rotations take place in my posts).
High Wing: Gust, Level Forward Vee Formation.
Middle Wing: Gale, Level Forward Vee Formation.
Low Wing: Breeze, Level Triple Trail Formation.
Queen's Wing: Zephyr, Level Trail Formation.
Please reference the Mavros Wings, Threadfall 101, and Roleplaying Threadfall threads as needed. Remember that there are 6 rounds and you have 48 hours to post for each round before we move on without you. Starting with this Fall, if your character wants to do something ridiculous, I will be rolling a special roll with a high chance of a critical outcome. Don't forget to post a color for each of your Active characters from the following list:
Red
Orange
Gold
Yellow
Lime
Green
Teal
Cyan
Blue
Indigo
Violet
Purple
Pink
Tan
Bronze
Brown
White
Silver
Gray
Black

Esko Taxx Alyx kevna tovaana @kiba

[Deleted]

C'mor - Blue Zardilath
Despite the sevendays of Threadfall under his belt by now, C'mor being relaxed about anything was as likely as holding a Gather in today's calm but steady rain.

And speaking of rain--between the cold air in NORMAL weather and the water soaking into his riding gear, C'mor started shivering minutes after they went between and took position.

Once Threadfall actually started, C'mor discovered the unpleasant--but not surprising--logic that it took more firestone than usual to burn it. The bigger dragons seemed to have an easier time (larger mouths made larger flames, after all), but when he and Zardilath chased down their first clump of straggling Thread, the blue's first flame fizzled too quickly into messy sparks, and he needed a second blast of fire to finish it off.

We have a full sack of firestone, Zardilath assured as they went back to position. We'll be fine.

I know, C'mor said.

But it didn't make him feel any better.

C'mor: Silver

[Esko]

F'mol and Bronze Zenoth

They'd be taking the highest level in formation today. F'mol gulped- his Wing would be leading the charge and diving headfirst into the stuff. He didn't dare reveal his fears to X'ar, or even to his roommate T'lyron, but there was nothing he could hide from Zenoth. We survived as young riders, we can survive this. Zenoth said with his usual bravado, eyeing the skies with slowly reddening eyes. They'd just appeared from between over the Western Continent, and the beginnings of cold rain seared on his face.

'Zenoth, we're still a young pair.' Shard it, if he was already considered old.

That's beside the point. We're still here, aren't we?

He couldn't argue with the bronze on that. Instead, he swiveled his head to get a look at the other riders in their Wing. He'd gone around and inspected everyone's gear, things of the like. While he could've possibly been too nitpicky about those kinds of things, Threadfall instilled a kind of fear in him that made him almost neurotic. And he had to be a big fancy Wingsecond now, which meant that his paranoia effected the Wing. During the brief idle moment between arrival and battle, F'mol couldn't help but think back on his Apprentice days. Where his biggest worry was whether that one girl liked him back. How heavy and important that seemed back then. if only little Farmol could get a glimpse of his future. The rain pounded harder.

Might want to dial down on the nostalgia. Thread inbound. Zenoth's stern warning snapped F'mol back into reality, when he saw the silvery substance leak from the sky. Young Farmol would never expect to be literally diving right into Thread, but here he was. Springing into action, F'mol dug into the sack and curled his fingers around chunks of stone, yanking them out and tossing them into the air. Zenoth caught them and chewed fast, catching a few more bites before he felt the first wells of gas come up. The Thread was coming closer, closer...

Zenoth snapped his jaws open and out rushed a strong flame, eyes fully taken over by red.

(Violet for F'mol)

J'kai and Brown Nixrouth

During preperation for Threadfall, Nixrouth had gone through his usual routine of checking up on each dragon, green or bronze, and making sure they were in good health for battle. Not like the brown had much authority on whether or not a rider flew, but today he was a hulking pot of concerned questions and advice for his fellow dragons. Oh, did you have enough to eat? Maybe you should be quick and grab a wherry to snack on, some extra energy for the fight ahead. J'kai watched with dancing eyes as his dragon waddled to each and every wingrider, with varying reactions to his poking. When it was time to enter formation, J'kai hopped on Nixrouth's back, and the Wing took off to between.

When they exited the cold void, they were met with a different kind of cold. J'kai clenched his jaw- perfect opportunity to catch a chill and then an illness. The man's concept of fun didn't include sitting in the Infirmary, shivering and spewing rivers of snot. He looked up at the Gust Wing above them, tossing in some firestone for Nixrouth to chew as they waited for Thread...and there! Red-orange plumes of flame flickered in the sky above them, which meant that Thread would give Gale Wing a nice welcome at any moment. Fire shot from Nixrouth's great jaws as Thread began to leak through Gust Wing.

(And Teal for J'kai)

[Taxx]

Hiyacraith hummed, an unceasing thread of noise that R'naus could feel through his fingers as he adjusted the last couple straps on the blue. He flashed a glance toward his dragon's face, noting that those red whirling eyes were fixed on X'ar and Historith, knowing that the signal to go aloft would come from him and anticipating it. Not until we're all ready, R'naus reminded him, and Hiyacraith's hum took on a briefly deeper note in acknowledgement. He knew that, of course. Hurry, he urged, his body rocking with the experimental tugs his rider gave of the straps.

That'll do it, R'naus replied, and quickly mounted up, strapping himself in just a moment before their Wingleader gave the signal to take off; the blue's continued hum rose in pitch before breaking off as he hurled himself skyward with the rest of his Wing. Coordinates for their entry point over the Western continent. R'naus' eyes narrowed at rain spattered against his face, icy drops that promised to turn this into a bigger problem that it normally was- getting wet, with the possibility of having to go between? People were going to get sick; he hoped he wouldn't be one of them.

Rain! Hiyacraith growled in disapproval of the weather.

Thread, R'naus reminded him, as if he'd needed to- the blue was watching the approaching spores over the ocean, his eyes deep red with hate for the menace, but holding his place until the moment the leading edge reached land. Then he moved, hurtling forward with the rest of Gust Wing, jaws gaping and flame rushing to meet the threat- silver, like rain, R'naus thought, but much more immediately dangerous. Oh, if they didn't have the dragons, how different might life be- if life would manage to exist at all?
-----

R'naus - Blue

[tovaana]

Dragonrider Angela :: Green Vixianth

This ambient light shows off my sheen well, does it not? Angela did not answer right away, shifting slightly in her straps and glancing at the oncoming gray in the near distance. She did not mind fighting thread, but the rain was such a bother – and it made the clean up afterward even more of a nuisance. I’d like to think you are not ignoring me. The purr in her mind was polite and Angela shifted again, wiping her goggles with her arm.

‘I’m not ignoring you Vix. We have a long threadfall ahead of us, dear. Shall we focus?’ Vixianth’s eyes were whirling red. And I shall fight it fiercely. But that does not mean I can’t look good while doing it. Angela grinned at this, pushing her braided blonde hair to her back.

‘There get those!’ I see it. She had darted gracefully to a few strands that had almost been missed.

Dragonrider R’zon :: Brown Leviath

He was holding on to the feeling he had felt with Kenessia that morning. “Good luck.” He had told her. He had held her close and since she knew he was a man of few words, he hoped she knew he had meant it. Threadfall was part of their lives, it wasn’t a rare occurrence, but it didn’t mean he had to like that she flew in the skies. At least they were in the same wing. He glanced back to spot Kenessia and her green further down the tail of their formation. R’zon knew she wouldn’t be able to see through the rain if he waved at her, but somehow looking back had given him the assurance he had needed in that moment.

R’zon felt Leviath move gently up and down with the movement of his powerful wings. It was still humbling to ride such a large creature. Quiet Leviath was paying particularly close attention to his thoughts, as always an observant presence in his mind. Which reminded him that he should be paying closer attention to the current threadfall, since Leviath relied on his thoughts when it came to burning and avoiding thread. His large size made for easily taking out large globs of thread, but made maneuvering a problem.

They maneuvered slightly, keeping in the formation while getting into a position to take out the first globs of thread. R’zon pulled down his goggles as the flaming started, trying his best to ignore the incessant rain.

kevna

Angela: Cyan
R'zon: Black

[kevna]

B'zor - Brown Litniroth

Oh, you should have worn the gold scarf, it's so pretty.

B'zor gave his brown a look, clearly letting him know exactly what he thought of that. He secured his thicker riding leathers, as he overlooked his small lithe dragon, double checking everything. He positioned his goggles and wrapped the black warm scarf tightly around his neck and over his mouth. He patted Litniroth, checking on his wing-mates, and silently prodded his bonded into the sky. 

Well I am just saying, oh look, so many pretty greens. 

His dragon sent waves of joy B'zor rolled his eyes.

Let's just focus on what's ahead, please?

He scanned the rest of his wing, and followed easily enough as the gust wing took flight and began formation. A quick between and they were ready. He checked their position, and nodded. 

Let's do this. He pointed out a clump within their zone, and gave his bonded some fire-stone. They soared, and the thread was scored. This is what he was meant for. 

Kenessia - Green Nimiath

She tried swallowing, but felt like there was a ball in her throat. 

It's okay, everything will be okay. This is why we practice.  

The green said comfortingly, but the brunette could feel the alertness flowing through the green. While Kenessia heard her bonded, she was having a hard time soothing the fear implanted in her heart. She couldn't lose him, and.. and she couldn't see him. Where was he? Her eyes searched vigilantly along the skies, along formation. She saw B'zor easily enough, but she didn't care about him. She just wanted to see R'zon. To know where- There he is love, see? There is nothing wrong.

Kenessia took a deep breath in relief and memorized every faucet of him. So strong. Now it was time to focus on them. They couldn't be distracted like the last time. So it meant being highly attentive to the thread, and her dragon's strong concern with others. 

We can't leave formation love.

I know I know. It's difficult knowing that my siblings are in need of help and I can't help them.

If you do, you leave others at more risk. We need to focus on our area and our duties. Ok?

I will. This time it's be different. I promise. There, quick, firestone mine!

Kenessia quickly heeded her dragon's need and they killed the clump that came into their zone. The brunette smiled triumphantly, grateful to see her dreams slowly coming to realization. They would be the best team yet. She saw another clump and pointed it out to her dragon, and they were off again, fire blazing. 

ooc:
B'zor - Red
Kenessia - Indigo

[Alyx]

Rachel and Blue Aslith

The chill of Between vanished, the sky opening before the Blue pair as they winked into existence with the rest of their wing. Rachel growled low under her breath, reaching up to wipe the rain off her goggles as Aslith banked around into position. ‘If I get sick, I’m killing A'zael. Slowly, with something dull.’ The Blue rumbled, the chuckle rolling threw her might. That’s not very nice. ‘I don’t care about nice!’ Rachel shifted on her partner’s shoulders, shaking her hands or make sure the gloves she wore didn’t get soaked. ‘We are going to be soaked before this is over. We can’t Search if I chance a sharding fever.’

Well, he didn’t make it rain. Aslith’s logic was lost on his miserable rider, and the Blue took the chance to rumble a greeting to Green Rusath and the massive Bronze Mastromideth as he claimed his normal position in the Wing’s flying formation. ‘I would have rather stayed Between.’ Aslith gave a burst of rough laughter. What would that help? It’s freezing in there. ‘Yes, but it’s less wet.’ Aslith tilted his head back a little, a spinning eye peering back at his unhappy passenger. ‘Oh don’t give me that look. And stop laughing.’

The Blue was saved having to explain how warped the woman’s logic was, his attention swinging around the threat as they closed on it. The front few dragons began to flame, scorching the first thin, silver hairs as they dropped into their path. Thread. Aslith knew Rachel knew, but he hoped it would help his rider focus. Rachel grumbled, pulling the wet mask up over her mouth and nose as the Blue shot forward with the others, his jaws parting to let the flames bust forth to burn the silver to ash…

Melana and Gold Sularenth

Above them, the first flames could be seen; barely, flicking through the haze of the rain and cloudy conditions. Soon enough, the ash began to drop down over them. Melana shifted in her dampened gear, her fingers flexing her chilled fingers around the Flamethrower in her grip. In front of them, she could clearly make out the forms of Gold Aerroth; it was strange to have the other Gold in their wing lead but at the same time?

At least her rider is less likely to cause mayhem. Melana ducked her head out of reflex, laughing behind the mask covering the lower half of her face. The last time was still burned into her brain, Sularenth’s clear displeasure at the Senior pair’s actions had been ringing in her ears for days after. Melana had heard that Karredy and her unpleasant Gold had been grounded, but it really wasn’t until they leaped into the air and left them on the ground did she actually believe it.

Focus. ‘Apologies’. Melana shook the dwellings away, feeling Sularenth swing wide to the left, and turned her attention up to the remains falling from the fighting above. Wouldn’t do to be dust-gathering with her thoughts and missing something important, would it?

Rachel/Aslith: Purple
Melana/Sula: White

[Zen]

Possible Threadscore Roll Results

Critical – Your character and/or their dragon have received critical Threadscoring. They are unable to continue fighting and require medical attention immediately.

• Your character makes their exit from the Fall thread. If your dragon is the one with the wound, they may require assistance from another dragon to reach the ground safely.
• Your character will spend time in the infirmary.
• You have free reign to decide where the wound is located, but it MUST be extensive. Be aware that major wing injuries will have your dragon grounded for several months.
• Your character will acquire scarring from this wound.
• Your character will not be able to participate in the next Fall thread as they will still be healing, and may be grounded for longer depending on the type of injury you gave them.
• Your character WILL NOT die or be crippled and forced into retirement unless YOU choose to do so.

Serious – Your character and/or their dragon have received some serious Threadscoring. Medical attention is required, but they may be able to rejoin the fight after the wound is seen to.

• Your character will miss out on the next Fall round while they are being treated.
• You have free reign to decide where the wound is located, but it should be sufficiently large or deep enough to require treatment.
• Your character will acquire scarring from this wound.
• You may decide to make this scoring serious enough to take your character out of the fight, in which case your character can make their exit from the Fall thread and should spend some time in the infirmary.
• Your character will still be able to participate in the next Fall thread, even if you take them out of the fight.

Minor – Your character and/or their dragon have received some minor Threadscoring. After a quick jump or two Between, they are all right to continue fighting.

• You have free reign to decide where the wound is located, but it should not be terribly large or deep.
• Your character can continue fighting as normal and the wound may not even result in scarring, though treatment after Fall is over would be wise.

None – Through a combination of your character's quick wits and their dragon's fighting skills, they have both managed to escape any Threadscoring. For now.

Round 1 Results
A'zael/Fath – None
Talaria/Tanith – None
C'mor/Zardilath – None
F'mol/Zenoth – Minor
J'kai/Nixrouth – Minor
R'naus/Hiyacraith – None
Angela/Vixianth– Serious (Do not choose a color for her this round, she'll be out until the next round being treated)
R'zon/Leviath – None
B'zor/Litniroth – None
Kenessia/Nimiath – None
Rachel/Aslith – None
Melana/Sularenth – None
NPC – None

Round 2 has begun. Remember to choose a new color!

---

A'zael :: Bronze Fath

The rain was obnoxious, spotting drops of water on A'zael's flight goggles that had to be constantly wiped off or further obscure his vision. Not to mention it was sharding cold. But not cold or wet enough to kill Thread. Conditions could be worse, he knew, but in this moment it hardly mattered. They were miserable conditions even if they weren't terribly life threatening. At the point of Gale Wing's vee formation, he chanced a quick glance back at the rest of the Wing, though the rain made it difficult to tell how some of the riders farther back were faring exactly. His cursory glance didn't reveal any gaps in formation yet, however, and Fath hadn't informed of anyone leaving either. That was good, so far.

Another burst of flame and A'zael took a heartbeat to bask in the heat it provided as Fath seared another writhing clump of Thread from the sky. Another annoying thing about the rain. It turned the Thread ash into a disgusting gray paste that stuck to everything. He tugged his scarf back up over his nose where it had fallen at some point to keep from inhaling any of the stuff. Another glance behind them. Fath! They winked Between and returned shortly, the bronze chasing after the clump that had narrowly missed them, rising back to proper altitude after he had seen it burned. The cold air over the Western Continent didn't even seem that bad after a wet trip Between.

Talaria :: Green Tanith

Talaria kept glancing at Zenelle, waiting for any word of their need to return to the Weyr. So far the fighting Wings seemed to be doing a decent job catching everything. Nothing had managed to escape to the Queen's Wing just yet, which left their small Wing with very little to do but glide about beneath the fighters and wait. And the wait was getting to Tanith already. It won't be long.

Are you so bored you're hoping for an injury?

Tanith! That is not what I meant! Talaria made an annoyed noise, I was talking about Thread getting through for you to chase. You're the one that's bored. I'd be fine if my skills weren't required at all.

And you call me lazy.

Talaria only rolled her eyes and didn't deign to respond. The green was in an even more sour mood than usual and she had no desire to continue this obnoxious back and forth.

A'zael: Bronze
Talaria: Green
NPC: Tan

[tovaana]

Dragonrider Angela :: Green Vixianth

‘I know you’re excited, but we need to stay to our area Vix.’ The hatred for the thread was coming off in strong vibes as her lithe green swam through the air and burned as quickly as she could get her the firestone. Angela had no problem fearing the silvery threads that fell from the sky, but the hatred that her dragon felt was so… deep and innate. Her dragon banked suddenly and she realized that she had gotten careless in directing her passionate lithe beauty. ‘Vix dear.’ Her stomach was whirling at the sudden movements and there was a polite apology as her companion slowed a little. I am sorry, Angela, I did not mean to stress you. ‘It’s fine, but we need to remember what we’ve been long taught. No matter how much thread-fighting we have done.’

Then it was too late as they both noticed the multiple clumps headed in their direction. She had long pulled the scarf over the bottom half of her face, occasionally rubbing the ash and water from her goggles. The rain was helping the dirt situation, but it wasn’t falling hard enough to clean – just enough to be a distraction and irritation. ‘We need help, there’s too much, love – Vixi!!’ After taking the firestone the green jerked forward energetically. There was the smell of the thread burning and dying and she held her breath as she tried to see which way her dragon should veer…they needed to get under the rest of what had not burned.

With direction she showed Vixiath and they went in and out of between, blinking right under the patch they had missed. She was grateful Vixianth was so agile and quick, but had she been bigger they would not have had an issue with the multiple clumps. After another consumption of firestone Vixianth made another go at the now scattered clumps. She could feel the rumble of irritation as silver passed by and below them. The distraction was momentary, but long enough for new individual threads above them to miss their detection.

Vixiath let out a piteous creel and Angela cried aloud at the pain that she felt through her dragon. My face, why’d it have to get my face. The incoherent thoughts of her dragon were confusing as she jerked suddenly up and then there was more pain… but was it her own, or was it Vixiath’s again? Darkness of between became them and she furiously thought of where they had been before they had had the accident. She had to cool her dragon’s fear, despite the pain in her shoulder and face. The cold of between felt good on her face and shoulder. They blinked back, but she knew they needed to land and see to whatever had hit her dragon and also seemingly herself. Her jaw and shoulder were throbbing with a burning sensation.

Vixi seemed to resist the idea of landing, until she realized that her rider was also in pain. Again they went between and appeared closer to ground and they landed. The pain was unbearable, but before Angela would rest – she needed to make sure Vixi was fine. She struggled one handed at her straps, calling for help and people gathered to look at her green and help her down.

(scoring on Vixianth’s face, more serious on Angela’s shoulder/arm and one score on her left jaw/cheek area)

Dragonrider R’zon :: Brown Leviath

R’zon heard the creel behind and tried to get a look at what had happened, his stomach churning as he saw the green blink out and then back in and then out once more. It was not Nimiath. The thoughtful low tone of his dragon had seen where his fear was leading him to believe and he let out a slow sigh, pulling his scarf back up after feeding more firestone to his Leviath. ‘Who?’ He asked. Vixiath, was the simple reply and R’zon let out another breath through the scarf. Leviath didn’t seem to be worried about the rider and dragon, so it must not have been too extensive… but Leviath ever seemed too worried about anything.

‘There, we need to angle more to the left for those next clumps.’ Leviath complied, angling his wings so they made a slow incline to meet the next thread.

R'zon : Indigo

[Alyx]

Rachel and Blue Aslith

Soaked and grumbling, Rachel did little more in Threadfall then play a second pair of eyes, directing the older Blue under her toward any clumps he might have missed. They ducked under the massive bulk of Mastromideth to chase a mass of tangles down, then spiraled back up to bank around and skillfully avoid Green Rusath as they swung back to their position. They heard more then saw some dragon take a score. ‘Aslith?’

The Blue was quiet for a moment. Vixianth. I think she will be okay. Rachel frowned, nodding her head as she reached up to adjust her goggles. ‘Hope so, we don’t need to lose people this early.’ Agree. The Blue tilted his head back, jaws open partway. Flame burst out, the Blue snaking around to burn another clump to ash. ‘How are you holding up?’ So far, so good. I might need more stone in a moment. Rachel nodded, leaning in the straps to pull at the knots holding the heavy stone sacks in place.

Melana and Gold Sularenth

Below, and trailing the fighters, Sularenth rumbled under her rider. Vixianth is done. The Gold sounded majoritively unconcerned. ‘Is it bad?’ She will survive. Melana supposed that meant she was okay? The Goldrider leaned forward, clapping a hand against the Gold’s glossy skin. It seemed boring, to simply ghost along in the wake of the real fighting, but at the same time, Melana didn’t relish the chance of getting caught up in the major parts of the Thread’s ravenous touch.

Focus. Melana jumped, glaring at the back of the Dragon’s massive head. ‘Sorry.’ Sorry will not save you if you aren’t paying attention. Or me. Melana didn’t bother replying; it was only going to be an argument again.

Rachel/Aslith: Orange
Melana/Sula: Brown

[Taxx]

I got it, the blue hummed, a slight shiver of his wings the only sort of happy wiggle he could manage at the moment.

Yes, yes, well done. But we've not won yet. Don't lose focus, R'naus directed, blinking and squinting through the rain drops that spattered against his goggles and impaired his own vision; he was glad Hiyacraith didn't have this problem.

I'm not, the dragon retorted, offended at the notion that he would be, as he scorched another clump into ash. R'naus rolled his eyes, and then gasped, grasping the straps, as Hiyacraith rolled his shoulders.

I saw that.

No, you didn't.

Well, I know you did it.

Hiyacraith, focus!

I am! The blue's mental voice rose in pitch, becoming a whine as he opened his jaws and aimed a blast at a clump just to one side. You're the one distracting me, you know! I'm doing just what I'm supposed to be doing!

----

Cyan for this round! crosses fingers

[Esko]

F'mol and bronze Zenoth

F'mol's jaw didn't have much opportunity to unclench during the fight, having to wipe rain off every few seconds. Thread fell, Zenoth flamed, but it was hard for the bronzerider to keep track of things after that. He forced himself through- he had a wing to help look after, but oh, it was certainly not easy with the rain! It didn't bother Zenoth much, but his lifemate's distraction was just enough to catch his attention for a little bit...

A small tangle of thread dodged between bigger clumps that Zenoth seared easily- however, this nasty little string decided that it wasn't going to just die that pathetically. With uncanny agility for something that had no brain, the spore dove into the hide of Zenoth's mighty neck, savoring all the scrumptious bits of dragon meat. Zenoth bugled briefly before popping right between to freeze the thing off. F'mol didn't have much time to process the injury until after the pair returned from the void, the intense cold of between having near frozen the water in his clothes. After this, it was straight to a pile of pillows and mugs of klah, fardle it all.

Zenoth hissed at the pain, but didn't mention it or cry over it. Instead, he demanded with renewed vigor. More stone.

'Yessir.' F'mol thought with renewed fatigue.

(For easy record's purposes, Zenoth gained minor scoring on his neck. Lucky F'mol's getting off scot-free this round. Silver for F'mol.)

J'kai and brown Nixrouth

J'kai couldn't help it- he spaced out. Until he was actually scored, it was hard to actually feel stress or panic, even though he was going head-to-tangle with Thread. Besides, it was Nixrouth who really did the work, he was just a vessel and an extra set of eyes. As Nixrouth flamed, J'kai tossed firestone into his maw when he needed it. There was not a shred left of Nixrouth's gentle nature when facing off with Thread, only a mad lust to flame every bit of it to dust.

So, silly little spaced-out J'kai, his extra pair of eyes were busy pointing out a clump of Thread for Nixrouth to burn when a mean little thing decided to say hello. The small string jabbed into J'kai's cheek, producing a pain that far surpassed any kind of accident in a smithy. The main briefly shouted, giving Nixrouth the call to go between. The brown immediately complied, and the bully broke off his face in shards during their three-cough tenure.

When they escaped the void, J'kai swore. The cold, salty rain pelted against his face and bit at the wound further. However, new adrenaline pumped through his veins and he tossed more firestone. Shards, he kept forgetting how intense Threadfall could be.

(Oh, no! J'kai's pretty face got some minor Threadscoring, oh his cheek. Black for J'kai.)

[kevna]

B'zor - Brown Litniroth

He felt for the green ahead of them that had been scored, but he didn't let it distract him. He had to focus if he didn't want that to happen to his dragon. Three clumps were falling into their zone around the same time, and he felt Litniroth's indecision. Ever since the brown had been a dragonet his bonded had struggled with indecision, and B'zor had learned quickly that he had to take the lead. The rider speculated quickly.

That one first, then we'll curve like so with a soft dip, and we should be able to grab both those easily enough.

He directed his smaller brown, and his lithe and smaller bonded was able to maneuver easily enough. He fed his dragon charcoal, and with the ease of practice was able to follow B'zor's directions easily enough. Fire and ash swirled in the sky and he felt the power and exaltation that accompanied the fight against the smaller creatures. This dragon trumpeted after scoring all three clumps, excited and happy.

Thank you mine, that was quite exceptional, look at us go! 

Of course, Lit, we are spectacular together.

But even with these feelings of exaltation and gratitude filling the young man he could also detect the small amount of fatigue his smaller brown dragon was beginning to feel. 

I am not tired. I can keep going.

I know you can, but we can't push ourselves. We have to be so careful. We don't want what happened to the green to happen to us... 

Vixianth. That won't happen to us. I might be smaller than other brown dragons, but I am still powerful. There mine! 

He continued to monitor his brown, but allowed the brown to continue, and they soared to their next thread.

Kenessia - Green Nimiath

The creel that emitted from ahead caused her heart to jump out of her chest. She gasped, looking around frantically for her R'zon and Leviath, fearing the worst. 

Please no, please no. Shells, great Faranth, no.

Vixianth!!!

Nimiath bellowed and Kenessia was ashamed to say she was relieved, like a weight was lifted from her to know her R'zon and Leviath were fine. That moment of relief was almost their undoing, because she lost control of her bonded, who began to dart to help her sister in arms. 

STOP. WATCH OUT!!! Nimiath swerved just in time to barely miss an almost imperceptible strand of thread she had missed in her anguish over the harmed green dragon. 

I am so sorry mine- You know better, Nimiath, you promised. You could have hurt yourself. Get back in our zone, NOW. 

She was harsh, her fear of losing her own dragon, and her anger toward's the green's foolish actions making her so. 

I meant to-I don't know what I was thinking Kenessiamine. I am so sorry.

Her dragon crooned, as she moved back into her place in formation, adequately sorrowful and ashamed. 

Just focus, and don't do it again. 

She directed the thought more gently, but just as firmly, as she fed her green firestone to kill another strand of thread that tried to escape to the lower formations. The possibility of loss never leaving Kenessia's mind.  


B'zor - Purple
Kenessia - Lime

[Deleted]

C'mor - Blue Zardilath
The bluerider pair had been slogging through Threadfall as well as anyone: Dodging clumps of soggy ash, flaming half-visible Thread, and C’mor was at least trying to wipe off his goggles. His jitters settled down into something like calm, at least emotionally; physically, he was still freezing, and his teeth chattered behind his scarf.

As usual, whenever C’mor thought things were going steadily if not GOOD, that was when Zardilath jerked and bugled under his legs.

What happened?!

Thread got Vixianth’s face! Zardilath said.

C’mor didn’t know Angela or Vixianth much besides their names (not that he knew anyone ELSE, either)--but he hadn’t known Karredy either, and while he agreed on a logical level that she really shouldn’t have hauled off to help him in his first Fall--messing up both wings’ formations, getting herself and someone else Threadscored, and being conspicuously absent from Threadfall up until now--the fact that she’d done it gave him a kind of… trust? Gratitude? Comradery, he settled on.

He’d never heard of goldriders rescuing blueriders in the ballads. Really, he’d never heard of ANY dragonriders rescuing other riders, since ballad-riders seemed to fly around burning Thread in their own little bubbles of Heroism and Bravery, but it was one thing to know that rescues happened in real life and another thing to actually BE helped, so…

Do you know if they’re okay?

They went to the infirmary, Zardilath assured.

And there were C’mor’s jitters again.

Or maybe it was just cold as shit. Faranth knew if he could tell the difference by now.

C’mor: Teal

[Zen]

Round 2 Results
A'zael/Fath – Serious (No new color choice)
Talaria/Tanith – None
R'zon/Leviath – None
Rachel/Aslith – None
Melana/Sularenth – None
R'naus/Hiyacraith – None
F'mol/Zenoth – Critical (No new color choice, they are out for the rest of the thread)
J'kai/Nixrouth – None
B'zor/Litniroth – None
Kenessia/Nimiath – None
C'mor/Zardilath – None
NPC – Critical

Wing Rotation
High Wing: Gale, Rising Backward Vee Formation.
Middle Wing: Breeze, Rising Backward Vee Formation.
Low Wing: Gust, Rising Triple Trail Formation.
Queen's Wing: Zephyr, Level Trail Formation.

Round 3 has begun. Remember to choose a new color!

---

A'zael :: Bronze Fath

Everything seemed to be going decently, Fath informing him of Vixianth's departure and a reassuring Hurtsafe being the only real casualty thus far. Historith's unhappy tone reached him, the old bronze never happy about speaking to him directly but apparently preferring the option to having to talk to Fath. X'ar wishes to know when you would like to rotate the Wings, Weyrleader. A few of our greens tire. X'ar's way of letting him know he thought it time, apparently. If conditions up there permit, now is fine. He turned his attention to Fath then, Tell the Wing to prepare to take over the high position. The bronze stared up at Gust Wing, eyes whirling red, but reached out to the rest of the Wing, Prepareforhighposition.

There was a pause and then Historith reached him again, We retreat to the low position. Gamath has been warned. And then all of Gust Wing was gone, Betweened to below Breeze Wing, and A'zael had Fath tell Gale to make the jump as well. The entire Wing appeared at the higher altitude only a heartbeat later with Fath letting out a burst of flame immediately at the more intense onslaught of Thread, with no one above them to offer a buffer. Suddenly Fath snarled and even in the midst of Threadfall the sound was a rare occurrence for the bronze. Fath, what- he wiped the rain and ash off his goggles once more and followed his dragon's gaze above them, cursing at the sight of several thick sheets of Thread falling through the sky.

Fath. FATH. Tell the Wing. Shift to Rising. Backward. Vee, he emphasized the most important words that needed to be relayed, repeating them once more for the bronze, Rising backward vee. Fath snarled again but repeated those three words seriously to the rest of the Wing as his rider asked, not even running the words together, emphasizing them as A'zael had, Rising. Backward. Vee. A'zael just hoped the newer riders who weren't as used to Fath's sometimes a bit less than descriptive orders would be able to sort it out. They'd been drilling together enough with the bronze issuing such orders it wasn't a stretch to imagine they'd get the meaning, or at least that their more experienced wingmates might help if nothing else. It wasn't like it was a terribly complex order to figure out.

Directing Fath to drop his own position, the shift was completed as well as it probably could have been and A'zael could see every rider ahead of him from his new vantage point as the pulsing, tangled masses descended upon the Wing and bursts of flame from the most forward pairs began to burn them away. He tried not to pay too much attention to the amount of Betweening going on, there would be plenty of it to avoid scoring from such extensive Thread patterns. He just hoped they wouldn't last long. Fath's broad flame lit up his vision as the mass of clumps reached them. There was too much of the sharding stuff and it didn't at all sit well with him that his Wing had little recourse but to burn what they could and let the rest fall to the lower Wings. Even the Queens might see a bit fighting from it.

Fath's sudden creel drew his attention and he quickly wiped at his goggles, searching for the missing spot in formation that had surely been the cause of his dragon's distress. Gometh! He'sfallingmine! The bronze turned his head down, in the general direction of the blue far beneath them in Breeze Wing. Fath, no! Jerking his head back up, Fath parted his jaws to loose another stream of fire at the Thread that was nearly upon them, and then it was, A'zael's reaction just a heartbeat too late. Their skip Between cut off his strangled cry as a tangle of Thread ate through his thick wherhide flightjacket and seared into his arm, the frozen nothingness of Between a safe haven of relief from the pain.

Back into open air, another choked cry, and another jump Between. When they returned the second time, Fath dropped altitude, away from the fighting, A'zaelmine!?

Back, Fath.... Tell... Shells. Tell Greth. He didn't even want to look at the mess of his arm, the rain pelting the fresh wound somehow managing to be both soothing and irritating. He has the Wing. With a low moan, Fath relayed the message to the senior wingsecond pair and then A'zael took a moment to focus and give him a proper image of the Weyr to return to. Part of him wouldn't have minded remaining Between longer, but that was a stupid thought, and as they reappeared over the Weyr he sucked in a breath and glanced over his dragon, seeing he wasn't the only one hit, though Fath didn't seem overly bothered by his own Threadscore. Perhaps it hadn't gone as deep. He managed to feel relieved about that, at least.

Talaria :: Green Tanith

The Wings above completed a rotation, the Queen's Wing having seen little action for the first hour or so of the Fall. Tanith had been growling and grumbling the entire time, but when a sharp snarl issued from the green's throat, it was different than before. Tanith?

The green's whirling red eyes were locked above, though Talaria couldn't make anything out of the ordinary out from the vast distance, It falls thick. It may just reach us. There was a malicious sort of glee in her dragon's tone, though Talaria rather thought that much Thread reaching the Queen's Wing was hardly something to celebrate.

If the pattern's turned worse, there's more likely to be casualties, she reminded the green, who snarled in frustration, If all you wanted to do was sit back at the Weyr tending the wounded, why did you even Stand? Talaria snorted, YOU chose ME.

She growled again, It seems you've gotten your wish. Gometh is falling. Talaria's head jerked up, though whichever dragon Tanith was referring to must have still been too high up for her to see properly through the rain. She didn't recognize the name. Come on, then. If it's that bad, Zenelle will probably appreciate the help. With an angry reluctance, Tanith took them Between to the Weyr. Zenelle and her green Verdath were already landing as they came in.

The older greenrider hurried over to her, “Verdath says Gamath caught Gometh, but called for a gold to take him from the fighting. They ought to arrive any moment, hurry.”

NPC: Red