An expedition (open/PLOT)

[ShadowReine]

OOC: Thread open to everyone (including holdfolk) except the weyrlings (who can't leave their dragons for this long quite yet.

It was a beautiful day, summer approaching its end, when an entire flight of dragons circled above a certain southern meadow and then began to descend.

Naturally, this had been the headwoman's idea, but even the Weyrwoman had come along, Lyeth's great form amongst the first to land. There were certain supplies that were best gathered and harvested in the wild. Needlethorn, certain southern fruits.

They would restock the Weyr and let the dragons hunt, reducing the burden on Ista's herds. Thus, Yselka slid down and then turned to remove Lyeth's riding harness.

The gold nuzzled her with gentle affection, then took off as soon as she was clear.

I saw a nice big herd of wild herdbeast in that valley. Who wants to come and see if they taste as good as they look?

Yselka glanced at the others. "Okay. If anyone finds anything unusual...call out or send a firelizard." There was quite the fair of them circling.

[zenith]

Sebeth landed shortly after Lyeth, and crouched down low to the ground. He waited patiently as not one, but three people piled off his back, taking with them baskets and things to aid collections of food stuffs ... this included a few short knives, a few machetes, some broad-tined forks, and other such tools to aid in collection of plants.

T'ron also waited patiently, handing down large soft-wicker and stiff-wicker baskets down to the people below. While Sebeth was not as large as some of the browns, or the Queen, he was still a fairly large dragon, and was more than capable of moving massive loads. So, this he did. Like any other brown, Sebeth was a workhorse among dragonkind.

Once the load was entirely off, T'ron took the time to also remove the harness, as he had seen the Weyrwoman do earlier ... he thought it was a rather good idea, though he was used to Sebeth wearing the harness whenever they were away from the Weyr. But this was going to be a lengthy stay, by the looks of it, and the harness would stay cleaner laying on the ground.

Just as soon as the last leather strap hit the ground, Sebeth launched back into the air, to follow after his Queen. I am coming, too! He notified her, even though he had a late start in following. Mmm ... herdbeast. He wondered which flavor it would be ... the big chunky type? The tall, lean type? One of the two smaller, frisky types that were a challenge to catch? Or those deliciously fat and juicy, short-legged ones? It didn't really matter ... Sebeth was hungry.

T'ron picked up a basket, and slung the strap over his broad shoulder, before taking up one of the multitude of tools, and dropping it into the basket. "What am I looking for?" He asked. "Just anything I happen to spot that happens to be edible at the same time?" He asked, wandering over closer to where the Headwoman and Weyrwoman were standing.

Shortly after, his own flitter descended from the excited group of flitters over head, to land on his shoulder. T'ron reached up to scratch at the little one's head, smiling slightly.

[phlysolo]

H'zu. We are going to be late. The brass, bothered tone of his dragon made the Weyrleader grin. The great bronze was testy and anxious for a meal, though why Erusth had refused to eat until this day was beyond him. Perhaps he merely wished to show off for his queen, but regardless, H'zu found the bronze's uncharacteristic impatience amusing.

"I'm coming, old friend. Just give me a moment. I can't find those breeches Yselka had the headwoman make up for me," He said, ruffling through a stack of freshly washed clothes. From the pile a sleepy croon warbled just loud enough for the man to hear. Bonooru was so odd, sleeping in the clothes like that.

"Move it you," He told the lizard gently, picking him up and placing him rather unceremoniously on a pile of dirty linens. Ah, there they were! Snatching them up, he dressed and was out on his ledge, climbing up on the bronze.

"Ready when you are, Erusth," H'zu said and in the next moment, they were aloft and /between/.

Yes, they were indeed a little late for Yselka was already a-ground and his Wingsecond was with her. He couldn't help feeling irrationally jealous of the man who stood a bit closer to his Weyrwoman than he would have preferred, but he shook it off, smiling at the gathering dragonmen. Erusth bugled a mighty welcome that faded into a softer croon as he passed below Lyeth.

Good morning, my queen. He said unto her before easily dipping lower and landing so as H'zu could dismount. Erusth was up aloft once more, already eying those wild herdbeasts with a hungry grumble. They do look much fatter than our own stock.

Bonooru was readily amongst the wild fair, chattering and bugling around with the lot, manuevering with the aerial ease of a brown. H'zu smiled up at the lizard, feeling his content inside of him as he strode towards Yselka and the Headwoman. As he caught up with T'ron, he clapped the man on the shoulder.

"Hello, there, T'ron, ready for a game of needle in the haystack?" He asked cheerfully, grinning at Yselka in greeting. "Ladies, after you."

Several dragonlengths away from the gathering group, brown Kirith and S'koin had landed, each looking weary. By Faranth, S'koin was glad to be away from the Weyrlings for the day. They were beginning to wear on his nerves and if he didn't have Z'war's help, he would have certainly massacred them all. A green and blue rider had stayed behind to babysit while S'koin left the Weyr. If they needed him, they'd send a flitter and the man would leave instantly, gathering be sharded.

"Go and find yourself some grub, Kirith. Take care not to show Erusth up in front of his lady," S'koin said, grinning mischievously at his beast who snorted.

I am not entirely hungry, S'koin. The brown replied, lifting himself off the ground.

"Have you got any spare packs, Yselka? H'zu? My own is quite small," He called, waving his rather petite leather satchel in the air. The bronzerider turned with a brisk nod.

"I do," The Weyrleader responded, taking the one he carried on his left shoulder and handing it to the Weyrling Master. "Here, fill it up."

[dotta]

Celestine was one of three people whom slid from the great back of the brown dragon. With one hand gripped to her small woven basket, the other briskly dusted off her multicolored skirt. With the weylring tending to their dragonets, it seemed they were slightly shorthanded. So, Celestine, being the kind person that she was, decided to lend herself to their cause.

Being here would have also shown her how held the ranks. Of course, she'd heard of them, but she wanted faces to those names. She had already established that the one with the large gold was the Weyrwoman. What was her name? Yselka.

Celestine's eyes quickly jotted down the other woman's form. Her long legs gave her height, but Celestine wasn't sure how much. Could the Weyrwoman be taller or shorter than herself. From this distance, she couldn't be sure.

She almost let out a disappointed sigh. The woman was more handsome than beautiful. There were rumors of this during her travels, but she dared not think it true. Now, viewing with Weyrwoman with her light short hair, silently mourned her poor luck.

Her attention soon turn with some reluctance to the male who approached the Weyrwoman. He had been the dragonrider. He was a very tall fellow, but he didn't seem to fit his height well. The brown dragonrider was more slender than his height would allow. However, he presented himself well-for a male.

The girl did grow interested in him when his question was voiced. She wanted to know the answer as well, so she advanced a few paces toward the group. And that was when a bronze flew in. What slid from his back was a bronze rider. But his name escaped her. Ah, she'll find out later. She paid little attention to the second brown rider. Not only was he shorter than usually, he was also...aged.

[ShadowReine]

Yselka nodded. "Fan out, and yes, anything edible, but also anything unusual. This part of the south isn't as well mapped as some yet."

They might find something like the new species of fruit tree Southern had discovered that made very interesting brandy. Sort of a sharp yet clear taste to it. Something valuable.

The Weyrwoman herself began to move away, her bronze firelizard flying point ahead of her. "S'koin, come with me? And nobody alone. At least pairs, in case of felines."

It was in the very moment that she said that that, in the distance, a scream was heard...an almost human sound...and Rebel, suddenly agitated, dropped back to Yselka's shoulder.

Uh. Oh. Maybe this fanning out thing wasn't such a good idea after all. Of course, feline skins did make the best rugs...

[zenith]

T'ron grinned at H'zu when the man clapped him on the shoulder. "Hello yurself." He greeted, in reply to the question. "I donno ... I don't see any haystacks." He commented, yanking the Weyrleader's leg, as he checked his own basket. He looked at Yselka for a moment, lisetening to what she had to say, and then nodded. He needed a partner, then.

T'ron glanced around to see who all they had. It appeared that they had a fair number of women along with them, and as such, he should probably follow one of them. To make sure they stayed safe. Spotting one nearby that had even ridden in on his dragon, he waved her over. "You ready to head out and do some exploring?" He asked her, with a grin.

Imp peeped a question as well, before the scream tore through the air, catching the brown rider's attention. Uh oh. That couldn't be good. "How many people are armed, H'zu? If there are felines that close ... everyone should be armed somehow." And as he talked to the man, he also called to his dragon. Sebeth, just as soon as you are done eating, I need you in the air, on station. Just in case someone gets attacked. They might be depending on you to get there quickly.[/b] He thought, to the brown.

Alright. I will eat quickly, then, and return. I hear them, too. They are nearby ... I don't think they're terribly happy at the perceived invasion. the brown commented, as he continued to fly after the Queen. Indeed, he would return shortly, even if only to keep an eye on his. His was rather important to him, after all.

Imp peeped very quietly, and hid his head in T'ron's collar, rather afraid of what ever had made that horrible sound.

Squaring his shoulders, T'ron looked around again. Anything edible. Right. Anything useful ... well ... he wasn't quite knowledgeable enough to spot anything as useful... A few things, sure. But there were things that might be useful that would get completely past the man, simply because he didn't know there was a use for it.

He guessed that was why there were so many people, from so many different walks along with them. Maybe between them, they'd find everything useful.

[phlysolo]

Well, then, this was truly starting to seem fun. H'zu stared around the wide perimeter, wondering just how much more of the Southern Continent looked just like this open space. He was struck with the thought that he would really enjoy exploring out around here more often. Perhaps he and Yselka could arrange for more riders to sweep out farther than just out around the Hold's territory.

"Oh, I'm sure we'll find some sort of stacking to look through," He responded, sounding mildly distracted, the landscape to blame. His eyes followed one of the passengers T'ron brought over who edged closer to the group. Ah, he hadn't seen much of this one lately. A new Candidate, he supposed.

Yselka prepared to make off, instructing them to pair up and, to H'zu's great surprise, requested S'koin. The two riders shot each other similarly startled looks, but each had the tact not to comment. Instead, H'zu promptly looked away while S'koin quickly strode after the Weyrwoman, bright red singeing the corners of his sideburns.

"Right behind you, Yselka," S'koin said, trying to keep his voice even. He wasn't sure if he should be bemused or wary, for he and the Weyrwoman hardly spoke at all. And what of H'zu? Certainly, they weren't the best of chums, but they got along just fine. S'koin just wasn't sure if the Weyrleader was the jealous type...

His hand fiddled at his belt knife as the other brownrider, T'ron he believed it was, asked for one of the young women who had accompanied him to go exploring with him. What of other two? His question was answered before he spoke it.

The other passenger, the ill tempered, ill mannered Candidate Lenia had finally stalked her way towards the group. Though she looked sullen and unhappy, as usual, she did seem to be happy to be away from the Weyr.

And certainly she was! It was stuffy and was full of bad memories. Honestly, being around the other few Candidates had allowed her to experience some of the most truly depressing conversations she'd ever had in her life. For the most part, she was still upset that she hadn't Impressed, but at least she wasn't as bad as one of the girls who was threatening to do herself in. Truth be told, Lenia had encouraged her, for if she was gone, then perhaps another dragonet would be forced to choose her! Sad, but true...

With most everyone paired up, H'zu was left almost alone and she waltz up to him. They shared a look of unspoken agreement and decided that they would be stuck together. As Lenia opened her mouth to say something biting, that cry, so human sounding, cut her off.

She jerked her head in its direction, as did H'zu, as did S'koin and the two riders spared each other a glance, simultaneously reaching for their sidearms.

"I'm armed, as is S'koin. I recommend that we all keep close enough so that we could shout for each other. Firelizards might prove to be a little...irrational in a feline scuffle," H'zu said, glaring in the direction of the howl.

Erusth, can you wait a moment to eat? I want you to keep a patrol of the area for me. Can you do that?

The bronze, aloft, snorted and gazed down at his rider. He didn't smell anything other than tasty herdbeasts. Why H'zu was so tense all of a sudden was beyond him. Still, he saw no reason to disregard the request. The food would be waiting for him when H'zu released him from his duty. He swept his massive wings up and down, gaining altitude gently so that he did not disturb the other dragons in their flight. In the next moment, he was swooping away, soaring over the area H'zu seemed concerned about.

I shall be on look out. I have also requested that Kirith help me. Erusth responded just as Kirith's girth took off in the opposite direction.

Good.

"Lenia, come on. You're good in a brawl, are you not?"

[dotta]

Celestine listened carefully to the woman's words. So, this was nothing more than a food hunt? She was no gatherer, but someone within the group probably was. She looked among the people standing before her. Well, the Weyrwoman never mentioned partnership, so perhaps she was out of luck? Maybe they'd be satisfied with her picking any old thing. They would have to organize everything anyhow.

Her attention was recaptured by Yselka when she called forth a fellow being. Obviously, this person must have been of great importance if he was being called. She looked around, almst excited to see who this person was. Who stepped forth was that tiny aged brown rider. S'kon seemed like such a fierce name, but he stepped forth.

Celestine did catch the moment between the Bronze rider and S'kon though. Was their tension between the two? When another brown rider motioned for far, she came quickly, giving the departing riders one last look.

[ShadowReine]

And that would be the moment at which every dragon and firelizard in the area heard a desperate cry for aid. Except, the mind voice was not human or draconic. It was not words, but pure emotion and images.

Her children are in danger! Lyeth, translating that cry as a mother's fear and grief, and then sending the image.

Two felines, one huge, the other much smaller...tabby striped and standing between the larger, tawny beast and a pile of four or so kits, barely old enough to leave the den...

Very clearly, the mother could not keep the larger one off for much longer. And thus, she had demonstrated an ability no feline had before.

To call the dragons to her aid. Yselka frowned. "What do we have in the way of smaller dragons. Quickly!" Lyeth was far, far too big to buzz the felines in an appropriately intimidating manner. There were too many trees and shrubs around for a big gold or bronze to get close enough.

It would almost have been better if they had a wher...

OOC: Okay! Kitten rescue time!

[zenith]

Sebeth snapped between the instant that Lyeth translated that emotion for him. Being a male dragon, it had been a rather foriegn feeling to try and interpret. But now that he knew ... he knew what he could do. He reappeared above where the felines were facing off, several tens of yards behind the mother feline. Swooping in low, he landed with a thunderous THUD almost directly on the kittens, knocking over a pair of sapling trees and crushing several bushes. But the young felines were safe and secure between his front feet, the mother feline positioned under his huge neck. Lowering his head protectively over the small feline family and lifting his thick wings in a threatening manner, he roared thunderously at the offending feline. His oral cavity was more than large enough to completely swallow the feline if it didn't get the message quick and vacate the premisis.

For a muscular brute of a brown like Sebeth, it never occured to him to merely buzz the gathering, as he took the much more direct, straightforward approach. He had no reason to fear a puny feline. And nothing stopped him from landing directly on the offender and squishing him into a wheatpatty except for a desire to give the thing a chance to make the smart move.

Or it'd be kitty shishkabob in a hurry.

~~~

T'ron looked around for a moment, bewildered at what was going on. It took only a moment for the rider to get the information from his dragon, and at that was puzzled even more so. Felines?! Able to communicate with dragons? Willing to do so? Unheard of! And what were they going to do about it?

A moment of rational thought told T'ron that it would be best - at least initially - for all humans to stay away from the commotion. Fending off an angry feline was no small task, and quite a deadly one. Thus it would be wise to leave it in the very capable talons of the various dragons, and avoid having to fracture the dragons' attention into having to protect thier riders from all the felines, as well.

"Don't wander off. Stay close." He instructed the young woman that had followed him. "What is your name?" He asked, suddenly realizing that it was quite imperative to know her name, just in case things got more than a little hairy. The sturdy man gripped his machete tightly in one hand, dropping his chosen basket and drawing his belt knife with the other ... just in case. If it came down to it, T'ron was ready to defend not only himself, but anyone around him as well, while his dragon was otherwise occupied.

[phlysolo]

Without barely a moments hesitation, Erusth was on the ground behind the attacking feline, a deadly growl rising in his throat. With the great brown Sebeth defending the litter and its mother, Erusth had effectively cut off the offensive cat's escape route. If she wanted to flee, she'd have to go through him and while he might not be the largest bronze on Pern, he certainly looked the meanest right now.

Erusth, keep her attention on you! I'm going to try and come in and take some of those kittens. H'zu told his bronze. A shadow passed over head as the brown girth of Kirith temporarily blotted out the sun. The Weyrleader turned and passed a glance to S'koin who hadn't needed an order to keep his brown, larger by far than Erusth was, up in the air and circling. There was no way by the First Egg that Kirith was going to be able to wedge himself in there with out killing the whole lot of felines.

"S'koin, keep Yselka safe," H'zu commanded, striding forward quickly. Lenia, who was at his side, began off as well towards the baby felines. It seemed, to her, so wrong to let them die like that. They could defend themselves, they probably barely knew what was going on aside from the fact that their mother was be pouring off fear emotions to them.

While Lenia was as far from motherly as humanly possible, but it just didn't seem right...to abandon them like that. But even as she began to sprint forward a strong, heavy hand rested on her shoulder, forcing her back.

"No, Lenia, you can't go in there! That feline'll tear you to shreds! You just stay here and let the adul-" The bronzerider was cut off with a belly aching gasp of pain. Lenia's rather bony elbow had barreled into his side, depriving him of any wind he had in his lungs. Oh, so much for his manly air...

H'zu did not have time to recover before Lenia was racing madly towards the raging felines. Hopefully that great bulking beast of H'zu's and that brown of what's his face could distract that other feline long enough for Lenia to scoop herself up a kitten or two. Rather randomly, Midna appeared out of nowhere, like she did when Lenia either needed her most or didn't want her any where in Lenia's vicinity at all. Luckily, this was one of those times where she could desprately use that flit's....evilness to distract that offending feline.

As Midna screeched a battle cry and went straight for the feline who'd hoped to snuff out the little lives of the kittens, Lenia was upon the feline mother, looking around for the kittens closest to her so she could scoop them out and run out again.

[ShadowReine]

The feline did, indeed, attempt to flee, but in doing so, he ran right into bronze talons. Literally, because he had been paying more attention to Sebeth, and not Erusth.

As Lenia rushed in, she would manage to grab one kitten, a tabby like its dam, and bigger than a normal housecat. To start with, it squirmed a little, then it seemed to settle. Odd. She might get faint impressions of emotion from it, like Midna and not like.

The mother moved, but then collapsed. She had been severely injured, and her voice would be heard by the dragons and firelizards, her message wordless but clear. Take them. There was no way the kits could survive alone...

OOC: Four kits, four players, I'm keeping one myself because, hey, I deserve something occasionally. Lenia has Phly's. Up to everyone which character they want to end up with them. I'm about to post the species info .

[dotta]

Something was obviously amiss. The brownrider seemed distressed as he stared ahead, the people around her seemed restless. It was odd how a silently eerie feeling had shrouded the group. So, where they supposed to be scared? Was their an unknown danger among them? Celestine's questions were soon answered as the gold's urgent voice gripped her mind. There seemed to be a squabble between a mother feline and an opponent; and her kittens were at risk.

But the voice of the gold wasn't actually necessary now. The small group had plain sight of what was occurring. Zenith's dragon made his descent almost killing the very things they were trying to defend. Really? Send a dragon? The thing could barely maneuver.

And soon the shadow of a flying beast blocked out the sunlight. People looked up, pointed at the soaring brown. Celestine looked up also, after all, she too was a spectator. Her attention was soon captured by the self appointed group leader though. This man wanted to be the hero. Wanted to protect everyone? Wasn't it strange for him to ask of her name now? Shouldn't he be worrying about the safety of others?

Celestine wasn't going to sit around and let that awkward creature crush those kittens. So, picking up her skirts, Celestine made a dash toward the kittens.

[zenith]

"Wait! Argh, idiot girl." T'ron protested, as Celestine took off away from him and toward the felines. What kind of nut was she, anyway?! Didn't she know that felines that big could rip her in two and not even know they'd done it?? He gripped his knife tighter, and took off after her running as fast as he could to over take her. She had a heck of a head start on him, though, and he was taking care to not trip on anything ... falling on his own knife would be most unfortunate thing to have happen!

T'ron skidded to a halt when she did ... it was a good thing that Sebeth was there, to keep that other feline off. He was releived to see it running. But the mother feline was still a concern ... she might not take so kindly to having her babies snatched up.

And then she collapsed.

T'ron looked at her for a moment, and then at the kittens. "Take one, get it out of here!" He told Celestine, before following his own instructions and scooping one up. Instead of keeping it, however, he handed it off to Celestine, and scooped up a second one. That left one more ... someone had to come get it, as the brown rider's arms were now full of squirming kitten... as was the arms of the girl he was with.

"Keep them safe, Sebeth." T'ron patted his dragon's leg, and then sprinted away from the commotion again, looking to see where he could put the kitten to keep it safe ... or see someone close enough to go get that other one. Seb, once all the kittens are safe, see about taking that mother feline to the weyr. We may yet be able to stay her life.[/b] T'ron mentioned, while occupied.

I will, mine. Sebeth replied, snapping threateningly at the offending feline that was scrambling all over Erusth's front legs, trying to get away. Sebeth deliberately pulled his clapping jaws short ... he didn't want to hurt it if he didn't have to, and he doubly didn't want to accidentally snag the bronze, either. Growling even still, the chuncky brown shifted his weight back and forth from one fore leg to the other, flaring his wings again, head carried very low. He could feel the humans moving around underneath him, and as such never actually lifted a leg or moved - he just swayed above them, making himself seem even larger than he really was. Most of the young were safe, now, and the mother was between his front feet. He could see she was safe from attack, though he was concerned she might not make it long enough to be helped... though the dragon wasn't entirely sure she would allow anyone to help her, either. She was wild, after all.

[ShadowReine]

OOC: So sorry about this. As this thread kinda died, here's the information!

Tabby male - Yselka
Tabby female - Lenia
Black male - Celestine
White female - T'ron

You get to do personalities and stuff, remember they *are* cats!