A visitor from Eastern

The green dragon appeared in the achingly blue sky high above the widest part of the canyon.  It was the middle of a beautiful afternoon at White Lightning Weyr.  The Bright Hope weyrlings had finished out their first sevenday, and were growing so quickly that the change was almost visible day to day.  This seemed particularly true for the smokes and the shadows, who had quickly outpaced their classmates in size.  This led to a great deal of speculation on the part of the dragonriders and weyrfolk.  They'd been told that the smoke dragons would be between brown and cobalt in size, but Sanovith and Emanoth were easily the largest males in the class thus far, larger even than cobalt Nicaeth.  As for Aliseth and Eniseth, the two shadow queens...  Aliseth appeared to have a longer wingspan, but Eniseth was longer by a fair margin, and they were quite half again as large as the smokes.  

Despite this rapid growth, however, the entire class seemed to be right on track and working well.  At least, that was Br'son's impression on the day the green dragon appeared high above.  

As she circled down, the green broadcast on a wide band, so that every dragon (and wher, should he be so inclined) could hear: Hayleth and G'sen of Eastern Weyr!  We come with messages and an invitation.  We mean no harm!

Br'son had been sitting on the tiny ledge outside his office.  When Yllaveth heard these words and relayed them, he got to his feet and reached out to hold the queen back from doing anything rash.  He needn't have bothered, he was already too late.  

A titanium arrow shot from the cliff below him, anger and protective rage flowing in her wake.  Her great silvery-blue wings caught the afternoon sunlight and as she clawed her way through the air toward the green visitor.

"Yllaveth!  You will not hurt her!" Br'son shouted, his voice echoing off the stone of the canyon's opposite rim.  The young Weyrsenior threw every bit of his will behind that command, locking the queen in iron bands of obedience, wrapped in the soft velvet of his love.  

Yllaveth's flight did not falter, though she did change her trajectory slightly.  Instead of climbing up to attack, she climbed to intercept.  With a quick turn that belied her size, she turned on one wingtip to take up position on the green's wing.  

I will escort you down, she said to the visitor, her mind dark and gleeful all at once.  Her body language was all intimidation, and hinted at terrible consequences if the green did not watch her every wingbeat.  For my dragons are angry, and sometimes rash.  Gaveth will join us on your other side.  With flame.  

Yllaveth made sure that not only Hayleth, but every dragon at White Lightning also heard her response.  Her stance was clear.  Her rider forbade her from hurting the green... therefore none would hurt her.  But if the time came, she, Yllaveth, and her mate Gaveth would protect their dragons and riders.  

Oh, yes, they would.  

Down, by the river.  Slowly.  The queen ordered Hayleth, and the two of them began a slow spiral in that direction.  This was, of course, designed to give Gaveth a chance to catch up, but also to allow Br'son and the others to gather at the river's edge.  

Clearly, something important was happening.

Gaveth took off in a rush that seemed driven by his rage. He crowded the green, not quite fouling her wings but so close to doing so, it was clear he it was on purpose - and therefore done with a great deal of skill. Greens were fast, his proximity acknowledged, but speed meant nothing when he was right there to tear a wingsail or knock her from the air.

Sidran would have been horrified - she'd spent quite a large portion of their partnership checking Gaveth's more violent urges to win out over his fellow dragons - but instead made her way toward Br'son and the river with calm implacability. They hadn't sent a green to try and take hatchlings away, but all the same - they had no business here.

*
Divisk never woke gracefully. Divisk certainly never woke gracefully in the middle of the day with the hideous sun out and some idiot new dragon shouting in his head.

The pulse of his disgusted wrath was so sharp and unexpected Dividia actually staggered, catching herself on whatever or whomever was nearest. "Someone's here," she said, turning her head in her father's direction. "From Eastern."

*
Aliseth instantly stopped whatever they were supposed to be doing, her mind going so pinpoint focused in his E'zen's eyes momentarily blurred, unseeing. Before he could ask, she crouched low, body tensing.

Ohhhh... she said, rolling her dam's rage through her mind, joy and fury wrapping together, and then she was moving, unerring, too graceful for her age, in the direction Yllaveth and Gaveth were herding the intruder.

E'zen didn't hesitate; even with his eyes still somewhat blurry, he took off after Aliseth like a crossbow bolt.

*
Ceronith felt none of the anger or rage or betrayal flying about. She lifted her head, delighted, at the springy new mindvoice (it was the first unfamiliar voice she'd ever heard), and watched the play of color on the vibrant green of the dragon's hide.

Green! It looked so lovely, that color, against the blue-gray and blue-black of Yllaveth and Gaveth, would look so complimentary against the green-tinged pearl of Lizzoth, seemed so right, along with all the other variety of colors represented in her home. She wondered why there weren't more of them, and, with a curious little chirp, followed her dark sister.

Vianne hurried after her, lips twisting down. What on earth? It was clear whatever was happening, neither Yllaveth nor Gaveth was pleased, and she had a feeling they shouldn't get too close.

They were just in the middle of an outdoor lecture when Aliseth, out of no were, peeled of from the others. Hesriath rose to her feet and bounded after her. The ground shook at her passing.

Aliseth, Halt! the scarlet said, moving to block the weyrling's path.

"Weyrling E'zen. We are in the middle of a lesson. Whatever news has come from Eastern, I am sure Weysenior Br'son and Weyrleader Sidran had it well in hand. Come here, young sir." Ashrah said and her tone left no room for argument.

The green dragon Hayleth and her rider come. Hesriath passed to her rider. Ashrah's heart wretched; was their any news of her weyrling son, Z'ash? Or of T'kal or handsome Jah'vi? She wanted to ask but did not. She had a class to take care off.

"What is happening, Weyrling Master?" Asteriel asked.  The girl had been shocked to see the shadow queen move so fast, so smoothly and had wanted to call out to E'zen. Emanoth stood by his rider's side, watching Aliseth.

M'drist didn't know what was going on and as far as he was concerned, he didn't care. Weyr stuff. Yes, he was a dragon rider now and he stroked Finnedath's brown head. However, he was still canyon born. Even though he turned his attention back on Finnedath, a cold thread of dread went threw him.

They hadn't come to try and steal him and his brown away? Had they? It was not lost on M'drist had he rose the only Traditional in the group.


(OOC: Risa! If you are around feel free to have Aliseth walk around Hesriath and force Ashrah to take the while class with her to retrieve him.)

--------------
A rider from Eastern comes. A green.

'Take me there.' Casriel commanded. She placed a well fed Victory upon her pillow and stroked the sleepy queen one more time. Then the Wingleader moved swiftly to her cobalt's side. She leaped to his arm and then to his neck, settling and giving Maraxith his signal. The plum dark cobalt dropped off his ledge and headed for the river. There was large outcropping of rock above the shore and Maraxith landed there. Casriel slipped off her dragon and made her way down to the beach, were she waited in silence. A Weyrsenior and Weyrleader should have the support of there Wingleaders.

The visiting green obeyed Yllaveth's commands, and largely ignored Gaveth's attempts at bullying her. Instead, she executed a graceful series of turns, flared delicately and set down on the riverbank with enviable delicacy.

Her rider, G'sen, removed his helmet to reveal a handsome face twisted into a sneer.

"So! This is how you mutants receive visitors, is it?" he called out to the approaching figure of Br'son. The Weyrsenior took a deep breath and fixed a smile into place. He knew G'sen. The greenrider was not one of Br'son's favorite people.

G'sen had been among his most vocal critics. A man shouldn't ride a queen, according to the greenrider. When the question of exile had been raised, G'sen had loudly supported the idea. Truth be told, Br'son couldn't imagine what under the sun had brought this particular greenrider to their canyon.

"Only visitors with reputations like yours receive this particular welcome, G'sen," Br'son called back, his words edged with his dislike. "Hayleth said you have a message for us?"

The greenrider snorted and rolled his eyes, then reached into his saddle bag for a roll of message hide, which he tossed disdainfully at the Weyrsenior's feet.

"I heard your so-called-queen threw only one pure dragon in her latest clutch," G'sen said. "Bring him out. I'd like to see him."

"You'll want to watch your tone, greenrider," Sidran said, coming to a halt at Br'son's side. "I know you were never one for sense or manners, but even you know you don't give orders anywhere, least of all here."

*

Aliseth paused long enough to rear up on her hind legs, wings flared. Her hiss was low, her eyes purely red. I have no problem with you, teacher. And quick as thought, she was back on all feet again, slipping around the much larger scarlet and continuing on her path. But I go.

E'zen, his head full of the maelstrom of Aliseth, either didn't hear or didn't have room to acknowledge the Weyrlingmaster, and didn't even pause.

'Weyrling Master's log. Regarding the training of queen dragons.' Ashrah thought wryly as Hesriath rumbled something less eloquent as the shadow continued on her path. Ashrah turned to her class and raised her arm.

"Alright, Weyrlings We are taking a walk. Keep your dragon's close. We have a visitor from Eastern Weyr. Keep your eyes and ears open. We have no way of knowing if he is alone." The Weyrling Master gesturing for them to follow. She would have moved the class indoors and under cover; they were too exposed out here. Her eyes went to M'drist, who was drifting to the back of the line and toward his younger bother.

Asteriel turned to look at Vianne, her expression worried. "Oh, I hope Aliseth is okay. Did you see the way she rose up on her back legs and hissed. At Hesriath!? Scary."
-------------------------

Casriel advanced, her walk bold. Her gold hair swung as she walked, set in a high imperial pony tail. She posted up near Sidran, her Wingleader's knot bold on her shoulder.

"Since when does a Green command a Cobalt?!" she demanded, her voice as cold as ice.

Ensieth had frozen, head turned to the sky with eyes swirling a fury of red, when their airspace was invaded by the green. Unlike her sister, she had stayed in formation, though her tail lashed sharply against the dirt.

Right after Aliseth had made her move though, the other shadow made hers. With a grace she hadn't really shown yet she was around Hesriath and right on Aliseth and E'zen's heels.

Teagan had not heard a thing that Ashrah had said. Ensieth and her rage had been stoked, and her rider was swept up in the surge of anger.

"We have to protect ourselves," she said, nearly having to run for her short legs to keep up with the two dragons and her fellow shadow rider.

"Something is happening, L'thyr." V'tayn said and pushed up from the table as Anarath remarked hotly that she did not appreciate another female dragon present. She already had to share the male population with a lot of her scarlet sisters, Yllaveth and someday Eniseth and Aliseth.

"I know. Osgilath just told me." the young boy said. The two classmates had been killing the time playing a game of cards. L'thyr had been winning and V'tayn had been taking it with good grace concerning his dragon was proddy. V'tayn tugged at the cobalt rider's sleeve and gestured him to follow.

Anarath was waiting outside, her wisteria and guava pink hide glistening as bright as a watermelon's flesh. Osgilath was with her, his hide charcoal black layered with midnight blue. He looked like a winter's night next to Anarath's sunset brilliance, made only brighter by her approaching mating time.

Get Kya and R'fariel down here, love. V'tayn told her.


Vorganth. Nwynth! Osgilath, his rider, My own and I are headed to see what is happening. Join us!


Do not worry, Anarath. No mere green could be as lovely as you. No one will hurt you on my watch. I with run that green off, my teeth snapping at her feet. Vorganth! Maraxith and Gaveth all already down there. Should our Sire and our Weyrleader have all the fun intimidating this interloper!?

Avidian caught his daughter when she stumbled, and placed her (not really gently) back on her feet.  "Get your beast and get up there," he said, his tone brooking no question.  "Defend the new ones.  They may try to take them, especially that brown."  He turned and snapped orders to a nearby smuggler to make preparations.  

Consequently, over twenty very large, casually armed men suddenly found pressing business to do along the cliff face and down near the water's edge.  Avidian himself appeared from a narrow fissure on the ground level and sauntered toward the group.  

"Weyrsenior, Weyrleader," he said, nodding to Br'son and Sidran in turn.  "Who is this?"  

Br'son smiled a genuine smile at Avidian, "This is G'sen, a greenrider with more sass than sense," Br'son said lightly.  The young titanrider perfectly understood the meaning of Avidian's presence, and he felt a burst of gratitude toward the older man.  Allies were a wonderful thing sometimes.  "He wants to see our newest clutch, but he's forgotten how to use his polite words."  

G'sen snorted.  "I've no need to be polite," he said sneeringly.  "Here they come," and he pointed to the cavalcade of dragonets making their way over to the little conference.  

Hayleth turned her head in that direction.  Hello, little brother, she said to Finnedath.  Her tone was welcoming and light.  You are a fine, strong brown, are you not?  I am pleased to see you.

Aliseth was, in the grand scheme of things, a baby. Her mind did not yet have the weight of Yllaveth's, but her will...

Her will was a force, all the worse for having learned no checks or barriers yet. And so her thoughts slashed against the green's ferociously, with barbs, intentionally wielded to hurt. No. You do not speak to him. You do not speak, unless you are told to do so.

She did not stop moving as they got closer, slowing only enough - unnoticeably so - for her larger sister to get alongside her. And then prowling, glare a near tangible thing, keeping pace with Eniseth, keeping well between this intruder and her brown clutchmate.

Ceronith, following along with the group, trilled again. The weight of the emotions in the air was quite noticeable, but none of it was aimed at her, so very well.

*
Divisk did not want to go; the sun, the minds, the noise...Dividia was therefore behind her father, by a small handful of minutes, the brown pacing in cave not far from the bank, his rippling growl carrying across the air.

Ensieth didn't speak, she didn't have to. She simply leaned into her feelings of anger and the urge to protect her clutchmates. Along with the other shadow she made certain that they were between this... green and their brown brother. Her eyes practically spat red sparks, and her tail lashed at the ground so violently that chunks were sent flying.

Teagan caught up with them, finally, and felt her anger rising. She had been too far back to hear his words regarding M'drist, but Ensieth knew and so she did as well. Her fingers curled like claws, and her eyes were slightly wild.

Finnedath turned and looked at the green who spoke to him but he ducked his head as Aliseth asserted herself. He was not one to go against a queen, no matter the color. M'drist stayed close to his dragon and though he was glad to see the canyon folk muscle up, he didn't know if the green rider was the only one.

I will not speak to her if you tell me not to, Aliseth. Finnedath said and he crooned softly to the shadow female.

Ashrah did not like it. Did not like the way the green looked at the young brown and wondered if she was strong enough to carry him off her in claws. Would she and her rider even day.

Hesriath growled angrily, her eyes whirling pure orange sparked with crimson red. She would not allow any of the young ones to be taking. Finnedath did not belong to Eastern simply because he was brown.

Hayleth. This is my weyrling pair. You may not have them. the scarlet said and she raised her wedge shaped head and adopted a sheltering stance, her wings spread wide and high over the assembled weyrlings.

Hayleth physically recoiled from the blast of two semi-controlled baby queens.  Her distress rippled through her, and made her rider gasp.  

"What is this?  What are they?" he asked, his voice sounding wild as he pointed at the two dark dragonets advancing on his green.  "Hayleth just spoke to the little brown!  She didn't do anything wrong!"

Yllaveth tilted her head to the side and watched her two daughters contend with the visitor.  Gently, she said to them.  Do not show your hand just yet. The queen took the poker metaphor from her rider's mind, and sent the shadows the appropriate sentiments to accompany the image of cards held close to the vest.  Hayleth will not harm you, nor Finnedath, nor any of you.  Her rider matters not, but she is a solid green, and worthy of respect.  

Br'son laughed, his voice carrying a cruel edge.  "They are shadow queens, G'sen, do you not think them beautiful?  You never asked about our other colors that Hatched recently.  Do you see the two large grey males?  They are new as well.  We call them Smokes.  Don't they look intimidating?  Look how large they are!"

Ensieth raised her head and looked at her dame, and gave one last punishing slap of her tail. We will listen, she said finally, though her eye speed didn't slow at all and she didn't let her guard down.

Nicaeth had moved towards the front of the class, ready to protect any of his clutchmates that needed it. Breklynn was surprised to find them there, but felt a surge of pride as she saw how many of the canyon people had come out. No one was going anywhere today, regardless of what that greenrider from Eastern may have thought.

Aliseth subsided at her dam's touch, but her prowling did not stop, and she let the pulse of her amusement at the green's distress be felt by green and rider both. A quick touch back to Finnedath was quite nearly fond, though her attention remained on the green.

E'zen said nothing, his eyes on Aliseth. Her talons had dug briefly into the ground, as though she had considered lunging, but Yllaveth seemed to have redirected her in some way.

*
Sidran's smile was slow. "Sometimes dragons are punished for their riders, and sometimes for nothing at all. You're not a complete idiot, G'sen. Perhaps try and remember that."

*
Vianne took a deep breath, and leaned close to Asteriel. "I thought they were going to eat him," she said lowly, once the danger seemed to have - well, not passed. Ebbed for the moment. Ceronith seemed not at all concerned, either with her furious sisters or the green who took no notice of her. The young quartz was intrigued, to say the least.

Emanoth watched with softly whirling yellow eyes and Asteriel watched the shadow queens with the green rider. She hoped they would not hurt him. She had never known of a dragon to purposely hurt a person. Oh yes, sometimes candidates got hurt during a Hatching but that was rare and accidental.

They are looking at us, Sanovith. Shall we sally forth and give them a good look? and the smoke dragon chortled fondly, cocking his head to one side. He might just enjoy this little game the shadow queens were playing.

Asteriel looked at Vianne, nodding with blue eyes gone large. "I thought the very same thing. I have never seen female dragons be so aggressive. At least, not hatchlings."
****
"M'dian." M'drist said, not taking his eyes off the green pair directly but casting his brown eyes around to make sure they were not being subtly surrounded.

"No mater what, no one is taking us." M'drist said and reached out to stroke his brown dragonet. The deadly cold had come into his eyes and his mouth was a hard line.

Mine?


M'drist turned to the brown and knelt by his side. The dragonet leaned into him. Finnedath lived in a world of soemwhat sleepy, safe observation but now the fully implication of what M'drist feared was clear to the young brown. He shivered against M'drist.

There, shoo me lad. No one is going to hurt you. I won't allow that. Shooo, be still now. There is a handsome, brave boy. M'drist said to his dragon, his voice adopting the same words and tone he had used all those Turns comforting his little brother.


***
 

Hayleth. I think I remember you. You come in a time were passions run high and anger dwells. Hayleth, I am Itzelbith. Once, we might have flown sweeps together?


The opal washed quartz set down with his rider, still in full harness. E'ret had been out on sweeps and his eyes shot wide to see a green dragon by the river as they came in, surrounded nearly by all the dragons of the Weyr and half or so the canyon dwellings. He dismounted and Itzelbith warbled a greeting. Itz was always so gentle.

"What news from Eastern Weyr?" E'ret said, walking straight backed and tall into the group. He carried himself with dignity and no small amount of comfortable strength. Craft born and raised, E'ret had a quiet pride about him. He could see things were tense once he reached the loose semicircle.
***

Sanovith watched his shadow clutchmates with interest, wondering at their reaction to the new arrival.  He'd not seen a dragon of such color before, but he wasn't sure he sensed ill intent from the green.  Of course, that didn't mean he wouldn't be ready to move should that change-- he was simply going to observe for the moment, try to figure out what it was that the new dragonpair wanted.

Yes, I think we should.  It will give us a closer look at this newcomer.  It would also put them in better position to help defend their clutchmates as necessary.  What could this other dragon want with Finnadeth?

Frowning as her smoke moved forward with his clutchmates, Revel glanced at Asteriel, knowing the other girl had more experience than she did with seeing dragons in person.  "I've heard stories of golds protecting their young.  This is certainly different, though-- I wonder if they knew the green's intent, or if they were simply reacting to the anger from the others?"

E'zen and Teagan might be able to shed some light on the matter, but she knew they were likely trying to keep their dragons as calm as possible.

>>>>>>>>>>

Vorganth was already aware of the newcomer's arrival, having woken from a nap as she burst out of between.  Instantly on alert, the cobalt had watched with narrowed eyes as she was escorted down.

It was clear from the reactions of the older cobalts that this wasn't a time to strike, though he would be ready and waiting in case it was.  In the meantime, he could have some fun-- he quite enjoyed the intimidation game, and the green was far smaller than he.

Landing far enough away from the others that he could make the rest of the trek on his feet after allowing his rider to dismount, Vorganth approached silently, prowling low to the ground as if he were stalking his prey.  He stopped a respectful distance away from the older dragons that were his color-kin, his tail lashing in agitation as he stared unblinking at the green dragon that stood among them.

"Why're they here?" R'fariel asked V'tayn and L'thyr when he caught up to them, crossing his arms over his chest as he eyed the pair from Eastern with distaste.  He and his fellows had been kicked out of the other Weyr-- why would anyone from there think they'd be welcome among the very people they'd exiled?

Emanoth needed no more encouragement than that from his smoke brother. Coming sharply alongside Sanovith, Emanoth made a steady trot toward the green rider. He wasn't as big as Eniseth or Aliseth but his muscles moved fluidly under his soft pewter hide. Asteriel fell in behind him, worried but no less willing to risk Ashrah's anger then to let Emanoth go without her. It was better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission, was it not?

Seeing her sister Casriel full facing the green rider, her beautiful face contorted into a snarl of fury, her body taunt and hands curled into fists. Maraxith glowered from a ledge above, his massive wings full extended and plunging parts of the river bank into darkness. Casriel wasn't afraid and at her back was her fearsome Cobalt.

'I can be brave like her.' Asteriel said. Following in Emanoth's tracks, Asteriel raised her head high and the wind caught her mass of golden curls as she did so. She was no queen rider but she walked like it.

Emanoth took a page from Aliseth and when he reached the green rider, he raised up on his back legs to look the man in the eye. He wasn't a big, scary man. Emanoth sniffed him and got the smell of his own kind, the spicy musk of dragon kind.

Dropping back to the sand, Emanoth swung his head toward the green.

Finnedath is a little shy but I am not. I am Emanoth, first of my color. Sanovith is my brother, the second of our color. I have never seen a green dragon before.
****

"R'fariel. Shards, I am glad you came so quickly." L'thyr breathed a sigh of relief. He hardly wanted to be the one the class looked to for answers.

"Babe, I think they want to take our little brown weyrling." V'tayn said, a mix of rage and dismay in his voice.

"V'tayn, look at Gaveth, Yllaveth and Maraxith. They won't let them do that. No green can command a Titanium. Right?" L'thyr said and he looked from the scarlet rider to the other cobalt for affirmation.

"But what if they bring their senior queen?" V'tayn said.

Nwynth relayed the message to her rider, who was concerned about what might be going on. Why were they being summoned? She mounted Nwynth who landed away from the mass of people and dragons gathering. Her hair was braided back but still the coppery color was easy to see at a distance. She was running then, to see what had brought them all out there. Finally, she found V'tayn, L'thyr and R'fariel.

Her face was flushed from running. Catching the end of the conversation, she grew angry. There was clear emotion in her eyes like a storm about to let loose. They were not taking anyone. Coming up from behind them, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

Would they really separate him from his clutch mates?

Nwynth liked the little brown. As her rider knew she would. And she would be worried about what this sort of separation might do. Mostly because they felt rather anxious when they thought about being exiled. There were other emotions too. Missing her family was among the things that crossed her mind. This wasn't going to happen. She wouldn't stand for it.

Finnedath is part of White Lightening Weyr.
The scarlet dragon was growing agitated. She didn't like this at all. It felt like being kept from her friends back at Eastern all over again.

Kyabree was seething at the very idea. "They aren't taking anyone. Not without a fight." She said, feeling every bit as confidant as she sounded.

G'sen flinched backward from the encroaching dragonets and retreated to Hayleth's side. Without a word, he swung himself up into his harness. "There are message hides that bring the news, I came to deliver an invitation. Finnedath and his rider are welcome at Eastern at any time. We have real food there, and true training that will teach you how to truly ride your beautiful brown dragon," he said, his eyes seeking M'drist's. The greenrider shifted in his seat, but Hayleth's wings remained furled. She looked toward Finnedath, but she said nothing.

Br'son raised his eyebrows, his cruel smile widening. "Is that so?" he said. "Well, perhaps we should ask M'drist what he thinks of this... invitation. Weyrling M'drist? What say you? Would you like to leave this canyon and go to Eastern Weyr?"

M'drist watched as all eyes moved to him and felt a part of him double up inside. He didn't like attention like that, didn't like the feel the hot scrutiny of people upon him. He wanted to run, he wanted to hide, to shut them all away and protect Finnedath.

But that would not make them stop coming. That is not what a man would do. He was a man. Slowly, Finnedath padding along by his side, M'drist walked toward the knot of Weyrleadership and the green rider. His voice was as cold and hard as ice.

"I am M'drist, the rider of brown Finnedath. This is my home, Wingrider G'san of green Hayleth. I am loyal to it, this my White Lightning Weyr. My brother rides a Quartz and I shall not forsake him. No, this weyrling will not forsake his kinfolk. Go back to your Leaders, sir and tell them my answer. That this is my home and if I am worthy at all of Finnedath, I will defend it with blood. Either mine own or my enemy's."

Without another word, M'drist turned and walked away. Finnedath spared one look at the strange, green dragon but then followed his rider.

Everyone felt very intense, and as none of it turned on her, Ceronith was able to pick curiously through the various webs of emotion as she moved. No attention on her either, especially when all turned on Finnedath and his rider, so the quartz decided to get closer to this fascinating new dragon who thought to hold herself away from the rest of them. Her mind didn't feel so different from everyone else's, but that deeply green hide of hers was fascinating, and Ceronith wanted to touch it.

So little by little, she made her way closer - easier than it could have been, with Eniseth and Aliseth prowling, and Finnedath, and the grown dragons - until she was close enough to stretch out her neck and rub her jaw along the green's side. Gently, like a cat, breathing deeply.

No. Nothing different about green compared to quartz compared to brown or smoke.

But...

(Vianne's brow wrinkled, and she missed the chance to reply to Asteriel, trying to parse whatever had snagged Ceronith's curiousity - and then glancing around wildly, realizing she couldn't see her quartz.)

Ceronith huffed, confused, and pushed against the green again, first her muzzle, and then her side alongside the green's, studying the tendrils and the -

the -

Sick! she yelped, rearing back and staring at the older dragon. You are very, very sick. How do you just stand there? Rather than alarmed, Ceronith was wondering, empathetic, and because she was so young, broadcasting to everyone.

"Ceronith, come away!" Vianne quite nearly shrieked, no hint of drawl or ease remaining in her voice or bearing.

Ensieth heard her quartz sisters cry and moved with lightening speed that shocked even her rider. "Eniseth!" Teagan yelled, taking off after the shadow.

Stay away, Ensieth told Ceronith, eyes still whirling red. She put herself between her smaller sister and the green, nearly snarling. Teagan caught up with her dragon and put an arm on her neck, trying to calm her.

"Eniseth," she said, alarmed at the sudden rush of protectiveness and anger from her dragon. "Calm down, NOW."

After turning her head to regard her rider, the shadow dipped her head and took a few steps back. She continued to watch the green, suspicion and distrust strongly flowing through the link to her rider. Teagan kept her hand on Ensieth's neck, heart pounding for reasons she didn't understand.

Hayleth reacted as if she'd been scored.  She jumped back from the hissing shadow and the curious little quartz.  No!  I am not sick.  I am fine!  The others...

"Hayleth!" G'sen shouted out loud, as he closed his mind around his green and urged her into the air.  Snide and uppity he may have been, but there was no mistaking a note of panic in the greenrider's voice.  

Br'son's smile had vanished.  "Yes," he called out to G'sen as Hayleth launched.  "I think it best you leave.  Tell your leaders what M'drist has said, what we have all said here."  

What did you mean, the others? Yllaveth asked, bearing down on the green with the single-minded intensity of a Senior queen.  

Hayleth whimpered, caught between her rider's fear and Yllaveth's demand.  But as she stroked her wings downward, the green capitulated.  The queens and bronzes are very sick, all but a few.  They go between after weeks of coughing.

With that, G'sen took his green between, leaving a sky full of silent questions with no answers.  

Br'son looked down from that sky, met Sidran's eyes for a moment, and then called out to Vianne.  "Weyrling Vianne!" the Weyrsenior called.  "Come here a moment, would you?  Bring Ceronith," he added as he bent to retrieve the message hides G'sen had tossed at his feet.  Br'son wondered if there would be more of an explanation inside.  Somehow, he rather doubted it.  

Why did you say that Hayleth was sick?  How did you know that? Yllaveth asked the quartz hatchling.  She broadcast her question to all those present as well.  It seemed rude to do otherwise.  

***

M'dian felt as if he could nearly burst with pride in his brother.  He and Gideath turned to follow M'drist and Finnedath as they walked away, so he missed the interplay that followed.  

My rider loves yours so very, very much, Gideath confided in Finnedath.  It makes him very happy to be your rider's brother.  Are we brothers, too?

Vianne didn't take her gaze off her quartz as they walked closer to their Weyrleaders, running her hands and eyes over the young dragon as though there was contagion she could feel.

I said it because she is, Ceronith said, tossing her head and simultaneously reassuring her rider that she was perfectly fine. There were... she projected what she had seen/felt/intuited, snakey, oily yellow tendrils woven all throughout what should have been the sparkling health of a dragon's self, and wasn't. Everything tinged dull, as though fading. It was wrong, it wasn't how she should be. Her voice turned rushed, Vianne's worry and panic started to ooze in.

Vianne shook her head, trying to calm herself down, and glanced at Br'son. "did they send a sick dragon on purpose?" she asked, with a steadying breath that mostly kept her question from skewing unnaturally high. "Do I - should I keep Ceronith separate?" Illness ran rampant in the holds most winters and many summers, and...it was hard to hold anything in her head, with that clear picture of the queasy wrongness of the green's system lingering in her thoughts.

*
Aliseth's eyes remained trained on the place the green had disappeared, as though she could follow the older dragon where ever she'd gone. The promise of pain was clear in her bearing, though she was still now, all but the tip of her tail.