Pack it up, time it out

[Spirithawk]

As each of her riders and personnel came to report in, Christae checked off the people who were to go back in time. Some of the ones who were staying were going back initially to ferry the youngsters and supplies back in time.

All of the bronzes, grown coppers, and browns would be needed to carry the little ones. Kaith would personally carry Veritath and her rider. Colvarinth would be staying behind. Rhia had special instructions for the young Queen's training and the Queen would be coming back with her classmates without being fully matured because Queens took just a tad bit longer than their peers to mature fully. That would give Christae time to take over the Silver pair personally.

She waited until everyone had arrived (GMing this a bit for those who have computer problems) and then called for quiet.

"Safety is our top priority. We will jump the oldest ones first, along with Veritath so that she can help to control her siblings. Even a young queen is more effective than none. Kaith and I will lead this jump so that everyone has a time point. Greens, blues, and the smaller browns will be ferrying material. The bronzes, coppers, and larger browns, like Mneith, will be carrying dragonets and their riders."

She began doling out assignments (Make them up if you really want to play them.) The larger the hatchling, the larger the dragon needed to carry it. Some of the smaller browns could carry hatchlings like Queroth but the larger hatchlings needed to go to larger dragons.

Healers like Ragule were standing by, and Anassa was ready with parchment and pen to document the entire operation as befitted a Harper. The other Harpers in the Weyr were also ready.

"So let's get organized and go."

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Geth landed quickly in the bowl, fully decked out with a load-carrying harness and quite a bit of goods already strapped onto it. R'anl dived off like a man with a mission, even though he was still fastening his gloves in place. "Weyrwoman!" He called, trying to get her attention over the hubbub. For he had some rather grave concerns with one detail of the expedition.

"Weyrwoman Christae!" He called again, trotting up to where she was standing, issuing orders. "Weyrwoman." He said again, coming to a stop next to her. "I have something I wish to talk to you about before we get started. If you would..."

He really didn't want to contradict her - again - where everyone could see and hear. It really wasn't good for morale. Christae needed their support, and he didn't need to make himself a reputation as an overstepping Bronzer. Seeing how they were rather pressed for time - funny that, given the mission - and he really did thing the issue was very very important, he gently took her by an elbow and walked her away from the majority of people so he could quietly talk to her.

"Weyrwoman, I'm sorry to intrude like this, but Geth said something this morning that sparked a thought in my head, and I think it bears considering. Timing is not an easy feat, and accidents happen. Things go wrong. You know that. But the point is ... we think it's a very bad idea for Kaith to carry the Queenling." He said, in earnest. "What if something were to happen? If by some random roll of the die you didn't make it through? We'd not only loose you and our Sr Queen, we'd lose a second Queen as well. You both are far to precious for that. I beg you to reconsider. Let Geth carry her. He's big enough and strong enough. Certainly stable. We can't afford to lose you both in one fell swoop." That way, if something did happen, there was less chance of losing both Queens.

[Kandarra]

L'von had been standing in the back with Zalith for some time, watching proceedings. He didn't like this whole business of going back in time. It seemed wrong, and besides, he had just started settling in at the weyr, really feeling at home. Now they had to go to a different time, to a strange place. He felt like a leaf in the wind, completely helpless to choose where he would go.

You'll have me with you always, Zalith said. And we have to go. Kaith says so. It's important that we go. I need to get bigger so I can beat up that Thread stuff.

Despite his reluctance, he had to smile at his mate's phrasing. He reached a hand out to scratch her eye ridges. She crooned, leaning into his hand ever so slightly. But their moment was interrupted when the Weyrwoman announced their imminent departure. He shuffled over to his fellow transfer clutch weyrlings to wait for his assignment.

---------------------------------

V'koran cursed as he jammed his tunic over his undershirt, stuffing the laces inside to save the task of tying them just now. He shoved his feet inside his boots, grabbed the pack that he had thankfully packed the night before, and raced out of the barracks.

Verith was already outside, waiting patiently. He said nothing at his rider's appearance or lateness, not being the teasing type, and besides, he was too interested in what they were about to do. It wasn't the time travel, because he couldn't quite grasp that concept, but he'd never heard of dragons riding on other dragons before. He imagined it looked rather funny.

V'koran hurried out in time to hear that assignments were being handed out and the oldest were going first. Well, at least it wasn't his group first. He looked about, finally locating L'von and a few others he knew from his classes. He hurried over, strangely mute. There was too much to think about, and he didn't have many friends among the others anyway.

-----------

J'dyn stood almost defiantly amid the group of people, her jaw set, and only the clenching of her fists betraying her nervousness. She wasn't sure she trusted anyone else with her beloved Tirzinth. What if he fell off? What if they didn't have the right coordinates, and they got lost between

---

Admin's Note:[/hr] She shuddered at that thought, careful to shield it from her still-sleepy blue, who was half-sitting, half-lying at her side. Someone had said that trips between times were longer. More time for something bad to happen, she thought nervously.

Still, she was here, and she would do what she was told. Respect and obedience to her elders was something that had been ingrained in her since her earliest years, and she wasn't about to change now. Still, little voices of doubt were niggling behind her ears, and she did her best to ignore them.

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Orena stumbled out of the doorway, tripped over her own foot again, and stumbled again before regaining her balance and racing out across the bowl, dark curls flying in a loose mess behind her. "Jeri!" She called, casting about in search of her friend. Oh noooooo ... she'd missed her! "Jeri!!" She called again, voice cracking. She fled through another group of people, hoping upon hope that J'dyn was still around. "Jeri? Jeri!!!" She called, spotting the tell tale striped dragon, and the young woman standing next to him. "Jeri!" Orena raced over, and stopped just shy of plowing into the other.

"Oh, good. I was afraid I'd missed you. Oh, Jeri ... I ... ... " She bit her bottom, lip, looking on the verge of tears. In a flurry of movement again, she jumped forward and wrapped the other girl in a tight embrace. "I'll miss you Jeri. Please be safe, come back. Don't forget me." Orena pleaded, before just as spastically letting the other girl go. Standing up straight again, she scrubbed a stubborn tear off her cheek with the back of one hand, before diving into one of her pockets.

"I ... I got you something. Just so, you know ..." She sniffed, and pulled out a light chain that had a pendant on it. Only it was not a typical type of pendant ... what hung from the chain was one of the more expensive types of eraser. Caught in a metal clasp to hold it to the chain. Smiling crookedly, she offered it to J'dyn. "So you can ... you know ..." Orena had worked hard, scrounged and begged to get together the marks needed to buy an eraser. But she didn't want to imply that she thought J'dyn's art had that many errors. At the time, she had thought it a great idea, since erasers were expensive and hard to come by ... and J'dyn liked to draw. But now it seemed more like an insult.

Expression wavering, Orena looked at J'dyn, hoping for the best now that she'd presented the gift.

[Kandarra]

As it always seemed to happen, Orena suddenly appeared in front of Jeri, seemingly out of nowhere. At least this time, she'd had a little warning, because who could have missed the young Candidate yelling at the top of her lungs? The weyrling grinned at her, but it faded as she saw that Orena didn't seem as happy as usual. She let out an 'oof!' as the other girl hugged her tightly, and for once, she hugged her back just as tightly, partly because she didn't want Orena to see her eyes tear up. "How could I ever forget you?" she asked into the other girl's shoulder, equal parts comfort and disbelief that the candidate even believed it was possible.

Orena let go, and reluctantly, so did Jeri. She watched curiously as her friend pulled the "something" out.. a necklace? Orena knew she didn't wear jewelry. But as she examined it more closely, comprehension dawned and her eyes lit up. An eraser, conveniently on a chain! She took it gently from Orena, promptly hung it around her neck, and smiled at the girl's anxious demeanor.

"I love it, and don't worry, I'm not offended," she said, hoping she was interpreting that facial expression right. She pulled it up from her chest to look at it again. "Orena.." she said with a sigh, realizing the quality of the product. "This must have cost you at least a mark..." Her tone indicated clearly that she shouldn't have spent the money. "But thank you. I did need one. Some of my sketches of you.." But her throat had clogged. She had never had to say goodbye to such a good friend before. She touched Orena's shoulder lightly and sighed.

[Dragon]

G'han glided down to the group below on Gerenanth. The man wasn't the first rider on the scene and certainly not the first bronzerider either. But he had spent his time preparing for the task ahead of him. Going back in time was probably the most awkward thing to prepare for because G'han had never once thought in his life he would make a trip to the past. If he thought such a thing were possible, he'd be tempted to change so many things.

But here G'han was, prepared and ready to take action. Gerenanth landed far enough away from the group so he wouldn't disturb anyone. G'han dismounted the bronze and walked over to the group. He had made it just in time to hear Christae's instructions. Gerenanth, being one of the larger dragons, would be carrying the larger dragonets. He looked around over at the weyrlings, wondering who he'd carry with him.

[catilena1890]

Relina paced around in front of her dragon while her flits watched, their heads following her movement. Soranith watched her intently.

You are afraid. Why?[/i] The green asked. Relina stopped her pacing and looked at her dragon.

What if we don't come back? What if something happens to us while we are Between? What if I lose you? Relina asked her dragon. Soranith crooned comfortingly and pushed her nose against her rider.

I am here. I will not let anything bad happen mine. We will be fine.[/i] Soranith assured her. Relina placed her arms around her dragons neck and held onto her tightly.

Thank you. She said before letting go. She looked around and glared.

"I wonder how they expect us to go? I`ve never even put a saddle on my dragon." She complained to no one in particular.

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Orena shook her head. "Doesn't matter. I just wanted you to have it. Something ... something to both remind you of your friend, and something useful you could use, too. Did you pack your drawing things?" Orena asked, suddenly realizing that if J'dyn had not intended to take her art along, the whole gift was kinda ... well ... pointless. And clumsy. After all ... who wore an eraser as jewelry?

But as J'dyn clogged up, Orena shook her head again and tackled the other girl again in a hug. "Be safe! Please be safe. I'll miss you." It didn't matter that it would only be a few weeks before Orena would see her again ... to J'dyn, it would be a few turns. "I wish I could go along, but I don't have a baby dragon. So I guess I have to stay." She quirked one side of her mouth a bit, but it didn't stay long, her attempt at humor failing miserably. That, and if she did go along, she would also be giving up any chance she had at possibly eventually impressing her own dragon. "Just ... be safe." Wiping a determined tear off her face, she backed of again to give J'dyn her space again.

[Kandarra]

"Of course I did," Jeri assured her. "I probably won't have a lot of time to use them, considering I've got Tirzinth to bother with, but I have them." Tirzinth raised his head and gave an irritable snort. I'm a bother? Too bad. I need you to feed me. His tone was unbending, and Jeri laughed, then relayed what he had said to Orena.

Still smiling, she hugged Orena back, giving her a final squeeze before letting go. "I will, I will.. but you might want to emphasize that to the rider who is transporting us. We're in his dragon's hands. Er, talons." She chuckled. "Actually I think Tir will be in a harness. Anyway," she said, breaking off that train of thought, a pang of nerves going through her. "We'll be okay. Will you?" she asked in sudden concern, because she'd never seen Orena so upset.

[Spirithawk]

Kaith didn't like the idea of trusting her daughter to any dragon, even a bronze that she regarded as highly as she did Geth. The rational part of her dragon mind, however, couldn't help but consider it, so she didn't protest his request right away.

Christae looked torn. It did make sense. If Kaith didn't jump, there would still be a mature Queen. R'anl and Geth were both trustworthy dragons. Kaith could still direct her dragons where to go even if she wasn't leading them herself. She'd sense if any were lost, even in the depths of time.

But it was her duty to lead her weyr. If she was afraid of jumping back then how would they have confidence?

"R'anl, your suggestion has merit, but I worry what the riders would think? If I do not show a willingness to go back in time because of the danger then how can I ask the rest of you to do it? The loss of Kaith would be devastating to the weyr, I agree to that. We have Timed it before, but she can easily lead even though she stays on the ground."

We stay. Kaith interrupted her rider. I will keep them from panicking. Send my little one with Geth.

"I suppose Kaith has spoken then. I know you will be, but be careful with the silver. She is the first of her kind and we need her desperately."

She strode away to check the straps that would be used to harness the dragonlings to the adult dragons on one of the bronzes. All of the bronzes would be taking a trip back but in spurts so that they didn't lose all of their bronzes at once.

She held her hand up for silence and Kaith bugled. As silence fell, she faced her weyr.

"Bronzerider R'anl brings up a good point my people. If Kaith and I were to bring the young Queen back in time, we would be putting our only mature Queen at risk. As much as I dislike the idea of sending any of you in danger where I dare not to tread, we cannot risk Kaith. She will be controlling things from here, keeping dragons from panicking and directing you to where to go. We have been to the time where we will be sending you. It is far enough so that you won't be meeting anyone, but close enough so that you won't be traveling far in time."

She took a deep breath, scanning the faces of her precious riders and personnel. "Begin loading up. Weyrlings go to your assigned adult dragon."

Christae and Kaith immersed themselves in creating order from chaos as the Weyrwoman tried to hide her worry.

Finally, all was ready. Kaith lifted her rider up into the air as the dragons were given the signal to rise with their treasured burdens.

She raised her hand and Kaith broadcasted the location, calmness, and confidence.

Once each dragon had confirmed that they had the coordinates, the Queen gave the signal to vanish into the void and travel between times.

And so the transfer began.

[Marnark’tranarprol]

R'anl heaved a slow, weary sigh. "Geth, I think I might need to work on my communication skills or something." He muttered, to the big Bronze.

Geth only rumbled in amusement, but he really couldn't protest the way things had gone. They had not intended to imply that Kaith and hers shouldn't go, or even carry a hatchling if she so wished. They had just protested the Queen carrying the other Queen. For it would only take one misshap, and both Queens would be lost. Whereas splitting them up, it would take an unthinkable two mishaps to lose them both of their Queens.

But ... Geth was not about to protest the lovely Kaith staying behind, completely and totally safe. It was a good move, in his estimation, even if sprung from miscommunication. So he did not pressure the act of explaining everything, even though R'anl was trying his hardest to not drop his head into a hand. He really had not meant for that to sound like the vague insult it had gone across as.

But it was time to leave. So R'anl sprang nimbly back atop his dragon's neck, clipping his harness rigging in place as Geth walked across the ground toward where the Queenlet stood with her rider. He was charged with the trip's most precious gem. He would take care of it well. Come to me, little lady. He beckoned, crouching back on his haunches and lifting his front feet, ready to carry the Queenlet in his powerful grasp.

This would be his very first time carrying a Queen he was not flying, but he took just as much honor in it. R'anl reached down for the young woman, as well, having a second set of tethers ready for her. "Come on, then, toss me your bag, and come on up." He didn't know her name, but he was pretty sure he'd have it learned before they came back to Dark moon considerably older.

[catilena1890]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(R)~~~~~~~~~~

Relina sighed and looked at her green and smiled.

"Well Soranith, let's go." She said, walking over to T'ren and Daneath. Donning her usual cold expression, she stood before T'ren and cleared her throat.

"We're here and we're ready to go. Soranith is prepared to be picked up. When should I mount with you?" She asked as politely as she could, though she still sounded proud.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(D)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Upon receiving the order to go to his assigned dragon, D'lan and Lenoth tentively walked up to Rhia and Mneith. D'lan gulped as he stood before the weyrling master and took a deep breath.

"Um, we'll be ok, right? Mneith won't drop Lenoth, will he?" He asked her carefully, trying not to sound insulting. He'd never heard of a dragon carrying another dragon before, and the thought of losing Lenoth Between frightened him deeply. Lenoth crooned and pushed his head against his rider.

D'lanmine, we will be fine. Mneith wouldn't let anything bad happen.[/i] Lenoth tried to assure his rider.

[Spirithawk]

T'ren grinned at the young woman who reported to him with her green. Danaeth was ready, and for once, not trying to prank. He understood how serious this was and how nervous the new riders and dragonets were.

He wasn't put off at all by her cold expression. Some people just hid their insecurities behind cold expressions like this lass had.

"I need to strap your dragon in and then I'll boost you up onto Danaeth's back." The brownrider was unusually sombre. His face was slightly pale behind his freckles and bright red hair, but it was more from a sleepless night than anything else. Once the little green was strapped in, he boosted Relina up onto Danaeth and carefully secured her on the brown's straps.

"Ready to go then as soon as the Queen gives the signal. Don't fear. Danaeth won't drop your green and these straps will be secure."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rhia eyed her nervous charge with a warm smile. "Don't fear lad. Mneith is one of the steadiest browns here. I don't want to lose any of my charges, much less Lenoth, especially when it's my brown carrying him."

She showed the boy the straps that had been rigged on Mneith to help him hold the younger dragon in place. "These straps will keep him from falling."

She helped secure the younger brown in the straps and then called D'lan over to boost him onto Mneith's back. It was a little hard for the short rider to boost the boy onto her huge dragon's back because Mneith couldn't crouch down as far as he normally did with Lenoth strapped between his forelegs.

Her own straps were quickly set in place and tightened and the quartet was ready to go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Priath was too small to carry any but the smallest dragonets since she was a green, but she stood ready in case there were any or if she needed to carry any supplies.

Not far from her, P'rin and his bronze waited for some of the larger weyrlings to come to him for transport. They wouldn't have enough larger adult dragons to transport all of the weyrlings back in one jump so the larger dragons would be making more than one trip.

[Kino]

[Gonna have just a short post for each one. I'm awfully confused and am just going to throw rider names out there to go to from the character boards xD; ]

J'kiran and Kaenith gave a quick goodbye and good luck to Kira and her copper before heading towards one of the waiting bronzes - V'ian. He offered a smile to the Rider and a nod. "We're ready to go," J'kiran said, and Kaenith's eyes gave a quick whirl in agreement.

- - -

"See you on the other side," Tanwen said to the grumpy brownrider she called a friend, and then she and Vessayith started towards one of the waiting blues. She made her way towards K'dan and gave a quick nod. "Tanwen and Vessayith here," she said to the Rider. "We're all set when you are."



- - -

V'ael gave a wave to his buddy Z'ayr and then led Aeydrith over to one of the blues as well, making his way towards Akki and her Ebbeth. He gave her a greeting smile. "V'ael and Aeydrith here and ready te go," he said, waiting for further instruction.

- - -

Once the announcement was given K'ris made his way over to where G'han was standing and waiting for a weyrling. He offered the bronzerider a smile and a quick salute. "Ready and willing," he said to the Rider.

[Akki]

V’ian was waiting as patiently as one could, but the idea of timing it made his leg shake about a little. He was trying to be nice and calm about everything but this was a rather exciting moment in his life and he was actually pretty eager. He knew he’d be returning to Dark Moon after the transfer was done, but the mere idea of timing it at least once or twice was enough for him.

He lost, or rather let it go, his train of thoughts when J’kiran confirmed that he and Kaenith are ready. V’ian grinned and jumped down from Waeith, “Excellent. I think Waeith was starting to get impatient.”

That was not me, that was you. The bronze corrected politely.

V’ian shrugged and rolled his eyes before motioning Kaenith to follow him. Waeith shifted his weight around so the bronzerider could securely strap the younger bronze in. Waeith moved once again, double checking the straps were correct and that Kaenith wouldn’t fall, and after a moment he deemed to be perfect.

The rider flashed J’kiran a reassuring smile before getting back onto Waeith, bending over so he could give the lad a hand up. “We shouldn’t have to wait too long, Kaith will probably give the signal soon. You sure you’re all ready? If you left something behind, you can’t exactly return for it.” V’ian laughed.

------

Akki and Ebbeth probably should have paid more attention to the stuff that was going around them, but instead they were deep in their own conversation.

“Listen, Ebbeth. I’m telling you – We’re gonna go back in time and shabam! You’re gonna be in an egg again. That’s how these things work.” The bluerider urged, trying to convince Ebbeth of this lie. The blue huffed silently and replied,

And you will be nothing more than a child who can’t do anything except for eating and whining. The dragon paused for a moment, thinking this sentence over. Ah, never mind. You’d be the same.

Akki was getting ready to shoot back some snarky comment but soon V’ael and Aeydrith were beside them, waiting for a lift. The bluerider lightly smacked Ebbeth on the side as she jumped onto the ground, landing beside V’ael with a grin. “Hope you brought your wine, vintyr. I think we’re gonna need a drink after this lil trip.” She laughed loudly as she motioned for the green to follow her. They did the same thing that the other riders were doing, strapping the weyrling dragon up so as soon as the signal was given they could head out.

She once again perched on top of Ebbeth and motioned for V’ael to follow before turning her head to look at R’anl. “Don’t forget, bronzerider! You’re supposed to be keeping an eye on me!” She yelled with a smirk before whispering to the weyrling nearby, “He won’t last a day.”[/center]