Stretched Too Thin (2): No When, No Where

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 2nd September 2005

Characters: U'kaiah, T'em
Description: U'kaiah and his wingsecond, T'em, have a chat after fighting Thread with Dolphin Cove and before returning to Dragonsfall for drills
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr, Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 16 of Turn 3

U'kaiah sipped at his third glass of water. It was cool, which was welcome in the much warmer climate of Dolphin Cove. He couldn't wait to get back to Dragonsfall and wash all the crackdust off of him. The wingleader caught sight of his wingsecond approaching. "Are our riders almost ready?"

"Almost," T'em confirmed, rubbing at the back of his neck as he watched the riders assemble. "They're tired, but they're ready."

U'kaiah nodded. "And our day isn't over yet. If we didn't have Thread falling over Dragonsfall tomorrow I would end drills early today. But as it is..."

"As it is, we do what we have to do," Te'm replied, still rubbing at his neck. "But _shards_ I'm tired."

"Who isn't," U'kaiah said with a nod. "Grab a cup of klah. It might not be hot, but at least it's keeping me standing. I can't believe how thirsty I feel!"

T'em lifted the waterflask he was holding in one hand and smiled wearily. "I think I'll keep to water. If I have any more klah I might not sleep for a sevenday or more." His wingleader nodded. "What I could use is a good stiff drink right about now. Something to calm the uneasy feeling. Do you feel it too? That kind of hallow feeling?"

"Like most of you is somewhere else?" T'em nodded vaguely, squinting up against the sun. "Somewhen else, too... shards, it's hard to think about."

"I almost wonder what I'm doing right now. But then when I try to think about it my brain starts hurting." U'kaiah wipped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Oh well, a few more minutes and we'll be back when and where we belong. And out of this heat."

T'em nodded. "I suppose we've already left by now... there shouldn't be any danger of meeting ourselves." U'kaiah nodded. "Yes, but we will need to time it a candle mark or so. Just in case. It could be a disaster if the entire wing met itself leaving."

His wingsecond winced. "I don't even want to imagine it."

"But we didn't run into each other coming over here, so maybe we'll be all right." U'kaiah shrugged as he took another sip of his klah. A look of careful thought crossed his face. "But I suppose there has to be a _first_ time. Maybe we didn't run into each other yet, because I hadn't made the _decision_ yet... Shards, it makes my head hurt."

"Stop thinking about it," T'em advised, rubbing at the side of his neck.
"I don't think there's any way to work it that makes sense... and until we're back where we belong, I don't think I want to think about it in any case."

"Well anyway, I want to give the riders some time to rest before drills.
It wouldn't do to have them wear themselves out." U'kaiah began buttoning up his riding jacket again.

T'em took a final swig of his water before doing the same. "When this is over, I plan to sleep for a day." The wingleader gave his wingsecond a sympathetic slap on the back. "Maybe we should time it forward to after the Fall tomorrow. Wouldn't that be nice." He finished the last of his klah and sighed as he put the mug down. "Well, let's get back to it then."

"Back to it," T'em agreed. He waited until U'kaiah had turned before he delivered his Wingleader an equally enthusiastic slap on the back. "See you there. Or then." U'kaiah grinned as he walked back towards his waiting dragon. }: They all await our orders, :{ the bronze said as his rider settled himself on Kalamath's neckridge.
**All right, let's not cross ourselves. Tell each dragon to take the image from you.** U'kaiah concentrated on an image of Dragonsfall, the sun a good candlemark higher in the sky than it had been when they departed.

}:They have it. :{ His bronze responded confidently.

**Then lets go.** U'kaiah looked over his shoulder at his wingsecond and raised his fist into the air in the signal to take to the air. He always thrilled at seeing a wing of riders behind him. This wing was an especially grand sight, he thought to himself. All tried and true bronze and brownriders. What a sight they must be.

**All right, Kalamath,** the wingleader projected the image to his bronze one more time to be sure, **let's go /between/.**

U'kaiah closed his eyes and held his breath in the unusually long jump. It was barely longer than jumps normally took, but U'kaiah could feel the cold seeping deep into his bones just as they popped back into the chill air of Dragonsfall. He looked over his shoulder to watch the rest of the wing pop back into view. The cold reached his heart as he instantly saw a hole in their ranks. **Where is T'em?** his mind screamed.

At the same moment his bronze let out an alarmed bugle. }:Shakenth and his rider!:{
**Can they be back at Dolphin Cove? Could they have come at the wrong time?** U'kaiah asked, trying to stay calm despite the fact that the blood had rushed from his face and his heart beat faster. **Where are they!**

}: They are silent, rider, :{ his bronze softly crooned. }: They are nowhere.:{
**He was righ beside us!** U'kaiah cried as he ordered Kalamath higher.
They had to be somewhere! He could not have lost him! Kalamath sent the image himself! The sound of keening dragons confirmed what U'kaiah's tired eyes could see - T'em and Shakenth had gotten lost /between/.

Last updated on the September 3rd 2005

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Stretched Too Thin (2): No When, No Where