A Dangerous Endeavor (R'khol, then all)

[Minajerie]

Andilay listened to the words the Weyrwoman spoke. This dealt directly with her, and her new home. The people she cared about and wanted to protect. Was she scared? Maybe. Somewhere in the back of her mind she might be. But as a queen rider she accepted the responsibility readily enough. She would never abandon her home.

She glanced over to her companion of the past few years, a small smile in her eyes. She knew the woman knew exactly what she was thinking, and she lifted her head high, taking in a deep breath, letting her voice ring out sharp and true.

"Hail sister, sword sister!
What's that on the breeze?"

Rayn's voice spoke up, just as clear and confident in her answer.

"Tis trouble, dear sister-
Which we will meet with ease."

Together their voices rang out. Slightly different, yet harmonious.

"Why? You ask?
Well we shall take on any task!

"For once we choose a banner,
No one shall change our loyal manner!

"Once we choose a cause,
Our fierceness will make opposers pause!

"Swords of might! Swords that fight!

"Together we shall win the night!"

Their old sword sister motto still held true, though their jobs had altered slightly, they could still protect and go towards victory with a strength and conviction that would get them through.

"We are with you Weyrwoman. Weyrleader."

[Drgnwlf71]

As they all listened, Falienhth's eyes whirled a bit of yellow/white. He flattened himself once more and was shaking like a leaf and his forepaws over his eyes. This time it wasn't nerves. This time is wasn't him being shy. It was fear. Fear not just for himself but all of Pern as well. K'hlat looking at his young dragon and at the rest of the Weyrlings. Something -had- to be said, something -had- to be done. He didn't care if was talking out of turn or not. _SOMETHING_ had to be said.

K'hlat took a deep shaken breath and approached the High Ranks; the Bronzes, Browns and Gold towered above him. He sighed again and shook his head as he began to speak. He was scared as well.

"What will happen to the Weyrlings? Will -they- die fighting for the Weyr or sit on the sidelines watching the destruction of Dark Moon? Thread. Its coming and weather you know it or like it or not, you -must- prepare. From what I understand, Thread is not a pleasant thing to marvel. I have never seen it myself, I have only heard tales of it. I wouldn't want my comrads hurt but isn't that why we have Dragonhealers and Healers? I thought dragonriders were to protect Pern from this Thread as you call it. That's my understanding. Please correct me if I'm wrong? I am not a Rider yet but will be soon. What would happen if we do nothing just sit and watch, hmm? I will tell you." he made a sweep of his hand across the dragons.

"All of this? All of this -will- be destroyed. All that we, as Weyrlings, and even -you- as dragonrider and Yours will be gone. No more dragons, no more Riders leaving us un protected with nothing. The young ones depend on you, the dragons -and- riders, to guide them, to show them there not cause to be afraid. If you sit and do nothing but run the other way, what does that say to us, the Weyrlings and the people that look up to you? All of us must do something to protect someone else from something. Look at my Falienhth, he is scared out of his mind. Too afraid to speak!" his gaze fell upon his blue's form. He began to cry. Eyes blurred from tears in his eyes. "I don't want to die and I am scared that if you do nothing, all of your hard work will be in vain. Please, protect us. Please tell us its going to be alright." he hung his head and sniffed. "Aren't we all scared?" he approach Diragyth and Fal and tended to dragon. He purred to him and tried to be strong for the both of them. He laid his hand on Fal's shoulder.

The blues shoulder was tense, VERY tense. At the touch of his hand, Falienhth relaxed a little but was still tense.
_________________

Greenrider Sh'vian felt the boys pain.She stood and approached him. Diragyth approached Falienhth and put her wing over him and licked the top of the head, crooning to him. At this sight, Sh'vian smiled.

"You see that? That right there is why the Weyrlings need us. To give comfort when all hope appears to be lost.I believe them all to be afraid. The enemy has been spotted and we know when its coming. I just got here. We have a duty to perform and that's to protect Pern from this menace. I ask you this, does it matter if these words come from a Greenrider or a Weyrling?" she pointed to K'laht. "That boy has suffered through a lot. His brothers death. He has handled it well. I see him as more of a soilder. That boy has my respect. He survived the Renegade attack. I'm not going anywhere. I am to stay and fight. I say we show these Weyrs around us what we're made of. I am scared as well, young ones but know this, one person can not do this alone so I stand by the Weyrwoman and will not be labeled as a coward. Yes, they will be injuries and perhaps some losses as well. Thats why we have Dragonhealers and Healers. Yes I know we are undermanned. Who knows maybe the neighbooring Weyrs will lend aid?" a sense of pride fell over her as she spoke. "The littles ones. They need us. If we run, what examples are we to them? That their superiors buckle at the slightest scare? This does not only hurt us, if you go, but them too. We are rolemodels for the Weyrlings and the all who live here." She looked around.

"What happens when the next time that Thread comes? Leave there as well? then what? keep running? We can not let this fear overwhelm us. We have to be brave, if not for ourselves, for the future." she pointed to the Weyrlings. "My Uncle always said, there is a time to fight and a time to run. Now, now is that time. Time to fight! Lets not give into our fears. Rise above that and become every man, woman and child's dream! True i'm not the Weyrwoman nor I pretend to be but what i am is a -dragonrider!- I took silent oath once I Impressed that I would protect my dragon and the people within the Weyr. I can not let them down. They expect us to do that, once I was a dragonrider, I knew a NEW duty arose, a NEW responsiblity. The responsibity to make everything safe for the young children to play outside and the duty to -make- it happen. Do all of the High Ranks feel the sense of urgency as I and Diragyth?" He approached K'halt try to console him as well. "We are dragonriders! I was chosen by my dragon to protect this Weyr and all who are in it and I am going to do just that. I'm sure Diragyth would agree with me."

Diragyth nodded her head abruptly once and nuzzled Falienhth, lovingly. She kept crooning to him reasurringly.