Diary of Lucy Hearfilia on Pern, November 2nd
After Natsu and Erza became full-fledged riders, I know my turn is near. Laylith is almost at the right growth for riding at which I will move on to the second phase of Junior training. Strangely, there has been no Thread yet, something that worries F'rus. Nat, pardon me, N'eel of course is saying we should go to the Red Star, something that has F'rus thinking. F'nor on the other hand says that the Red Star is not a viable option, showing me some hideous Threadscore he received when he tried. Gajeel's in Leadership training and there is talk that he'll be F'nor's Second. Wendy and I are Juniors while Grey is training as a Senior in Poles. N'eel keeps scaring me with tales of being forced to walk on spikes barefoot but F'rus assures me that many of the stories of training are just that. R'ton still is a Harper and I've learned a lot of history from him, P'mur, and F'rus. According to F'rus, her descendants settled Pern and are actually the ancestors of the Pernese. Though I'm glad N'eel and E'scar haven't had to fight Thread, I am also worried that it hasn't fallen. Oh, there's the alarm, I'll have to put this away and get to my station, I'm on monitoring duty today, using these special maps to chart the course of Thread.
…
F'rus leaned next to her dragon, quickly giving orders to the Colorleaders. "We're flying a full pole to pole Fall. I don't like this but luckily we are trained for this. As our numbers have grown, each Guard will be split into up to three smaller guards. One guard will fly reserves in case some of the younger dragons need a rest but the other two will fly a burst formation. We'll start normal but if need be, we will use that expansionary tactic. Luckily, Thread is hitting very few Weyrs so we'll be flying full strength all the time. N'eel, E'scar, you have never faced Thread but if you remember what you are taught, you will have a better chance than any Pernbred rider here. Now, prepare to mount."
At that, F'rus jumped on her dragon, signaling her Trainee, Wendy to throw up a good chunk of firestone. Checking the chunk, she nodded and checked her equipment, noticing that the new riders were overchecking. Finally, she swiveled her head. "The time it takes to assemble the wings will be no more than a minute. However, remember that we are assembling in a place with no air. This means everything is to be done mind to mind and dragon to dragon instead of verbally. We'll be flying our explosion pattern so take note of the Leader assigned to you. This time, we'll fly Bronze, Brown, Blue, Green, Queen. As most of this is being flown over uncharted land, be extra-aware of your stamina and surroundings. If Thread burrows, notify your Leader, ColorLeader, and both Weyrleaders. Ok?"
N'eel fiddled with his flamethrower before checking for the twelve riders under his command. Some of them, knowing he was new, gave him a quick smile. Finally, he nodded at N'ton, his own Leader and watched as he nodded to F'rus in turn.
E'scar gave each of her riders a quick glare, warning them that they were do exactly as ordered. Seeing them nod to her, she turned to N'ton and noted his nod at F'rus.
…
E'scar saw N'ton's subguard pop between before giving Jelath the signal to fly. With a quick gulp, she ordered him between, noting as she did so that her wing was definitely behind her.
N'eel saw the last of E'scar's riders pop Between. "Alright everyone, let's go char us some Thread!" He yelled as his own team popped Between. In the three seconds he had, he quickly shed a tear, wishing that Happy was with him. However, the suffocating airlessness of the vacuum of space snapped him into action as he took his place to the left of N'ton.
Geit Weg?
N'eel grinned, this was it! As the words were spoken, he checked his wing, able to join the yell along with the others, "Weg Geien!"
Hovering over Pole North, N'eel was giving some quick last minute orders, "Even though Thread may freeze up here, we still have to treat this as the real thing. Though I may not have been born here, I am still Pernese. Now, I don't know any of you by name but I know that we all have someone waiting for us Weyrside… and a very short-tempered someone just looking for an excuse to punish us. So let's free the flame and sear the grasses/Till the dawning Red Star passes!"
N'eel saw Thread beginning to fall and then heard over his mike, Fur Pern!
At the signal, N'eel flipped the canisters of his flamethrowers, took a deep breath, and led the charge, his guard going on the "streaker run" where the dragon flew belly-to-Thread and breathed fire as a flamethrower was blasted to the left and right. With a loop, he and his guard snapped out before arranging themselves to the right of E'scar's guard, checking to see that N'ton's guard was out of danger. Though it was nippy this far north, it quickly became warmer, prompting N'eel to use his own unique abilities, such as the Fire Dragon Roar to cover more ground. Occassionally, he heard others of his guard give out basic status reports but nothing problematic occurred until a piece of burning Thread hit him mid Streak, sending him flying off his dragon.
E'scar shrieked. "Bronzethird N'eel's been hit! I'm going in to save him!"
Maintain your position E'scar, leave it to the reserves!
"But!"
When your Weyrleader orders you to maintain your position, you maintain your damn position!
N'eel fell down, down, down. As he fell, he felt his headache grow worse, magic energy rising to the surface. As the headache threatened to split his head, he saw a very familiar and very impossible magic circle form around his back. "Happy?"
Happy?
Lucy winced, "He's lost it. Oh, I hope N'ton's wing will catch him in time." Then she noticed a Threadfall coming closer to Erza, "E-E'scar, Thread coming from above!"
N'eel felt the magic explode, felt his wings catch the air. Wait, wings? "I'm alright, somehow I'm flying!" He hollered into his mike. Wanting to unite with Ignath and knowing he had no time, N'eel pulled his wings back, blowing fire from both throwers and his mouth. After a few moments of exhilaration, he was back on his dragon's back, reassuring Ignath that he was fine.
…
R'ton hovered for a moment before activating his mike, "No more Thread here. Orders?"
Fly. We gotta get back before the Trainees steal all the good meats. L'ssa? Any damages?
…
L'ssa checked her riders, the exhilaration beginning to fade, "Br'k looks a little shaken but no score or burn to be reported."
"N'eel got nicked with some of that Thread and looks a little worse for wear but he's the only one." N'ton concluded.
"I scratched myself when N'eel flew past me but other than that, we're fine." F'nor piped up.
"I'll kill him! Two collided trying to catch N'eel." P'mur hollered.
"No injuries here!" M'rim concluded, mentally seconding P'mur's statement.
…
Lucy, Gajeel, and Wendy were standing at the front of the Junior Trainees, Gajeel shaking so bad that his Leader Trainee bar looked like a rip in his uniform. At last, Caramath appeared from Between and F'rus was in the air, landing squarely in front of them. "He's alright. In fact, the scoring wasn't his fault, I wasn't checking where my flames were headed. However, E'scar will be in charge of his punishment so he learns that one rider can cause many to be hurt. He will not be on reduced rations. Also, as my own punishment, the Leaders have agreed to the proposal that I handle all injuries from this fall."
Gajeel licked his lips, "What happened? Lucy said that N'eel had been hit but then that he was back on his dragon."
"I will release the details as they come in."
…
Even with the reassurances, the three in the Weyr were worried until Ignath flew in, N'eel landing on his feet. "I need to get some flame." He said before teetering on his feet. When he fell, F'rus caught him, checking his pulse. "He's just exhausted. I'll have E'scar check him to see if it is magical exhaustion."
As each member of N'eel's guard landed, they quickly ran over to him. "Will he be alright?" A newer rider, K'sh asked.
"You try falling three wings down only to suddenly grow wings of your own, fight thread, and still command twelve riders and see how you feel." F'rus said.